Causes of unintentional weight loss

weight loss

Cancer, a very common and sometimes fatal cause of unexplained (idiopathic) weight loss. About one-third of unintentional weight loss cases are secondary to malignancy. Cancers to suspect in patients with unexplained weight loss include gastrointestinal, prostate, hepatobillary (hepatocellular carcinoma, pancreatic cancer), ovarian, hematologic or lung malignancies should be considered in any patient presenting with unexplained weight loss.
weight loss

AIDS can cause weight loss and should be suspected in high-risk individuals presenting with weight loss.
Gastrointestinal disorders are another common cause of unexplained weight loss - in fact they are the most common non-cancerous cause of idiopathic weight loss.


Possible gastrointestinal etiologies of unexplained weight loss are celiac disease, a fairly common and well-known disease caused by intolerance of gluten, peptic ulcer, inflammatory bowel disease (crohns disease and ulcerative colitis), pancreatitis, gastritis, diarrhea and many other GI conditions can cause weight loss.

Infection. Some infectious diseases can cause weight loss. These include fungal illness, endocarditis, many parasitic diseases, AIDS, and some other sub-acute or occult infections may cause weight loss.
Renal disease. Patients who have uremia often have poor or absent appetite, emesis and nausea. This can cause weight loss.
Cardiac disease. Cardiovascular disease, especially congestive heart failure, may cause unexplained weight loss.
Pulmonary disease.
Connective tissue disease
Neurologic disease, including dementia

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