AN UNCOMMON PAROXYSMAL EOSINOPHILIA - THE EOSINOPHILIC GASTROENTERITIS

The authors report the case of a 16 year-old boy admitted for the seve nth acute occurrence in 18 months of abdominal pain associated with hy pereosinophilia. Each episode was identical in nature and receded spon taneously after 5 or 6 days. Biopsy of a fiber colonoscopically obtain ed specimen of small intestin was performed The diagnosis of eosinophi lic gastroenteritis was based upon art infiltration of the digestive m ucosa by eosinophils, the absence of elements in favor of other types of digestive-tract disease (parasitic, allergic hematologic, or inflam matory), and the absence or other illness outside the digestive system . However, the incidental discovery of a distal dilation of both of th e patient's ureters during one such episode, that disappeared with the other symptoms, mises the possibility of a bladder location as well, and thus of a hypereosinophilic syndrome. Corticoids were administered then tapered down. A relapse occurred 2 months later Currently, he is taking 20 mg of a corticoid every other day and has presented no mani festations over the last 9 months.