What ultrasound finding is commonly seen with PLE?

• A. Small intestinal mucosal thickening
• B. Liver cirrhosis
• C. Renal mass
• D. Gastric ulcers

Answer: (A)

Protein-losing enteropathy means the bowel leaks protein into the gut, leading to low serum albumin and edema. On ultrasound, the small intestine often shows mucosal thickening due to enteropathy and associated edema or inflammation; this thickened, more echogenic bowel wall is a common finding that mirrors the ongoing mucosal process causing protein loss. While other conditions like advanced liver disease, kidney disease, or gastric pathology can cause hypoalbuminemia or related symptoms, they’re not the ultrasound sign most closely tied to the loss of protein through the gut. A renal mass or gastric ulcers don’t reflect the typical bowel wall changes seen with PLE, and liver cirrhosis would present with liver-specific findings rather than a characteristic small-bowel mucosal change.