Laparoscopic diagnosis of obstructive eosinophilic jejuno-ileitis.

Introduction. - Eosinophilic gastroenteritis of unknown origin could be iso lated or integrated in idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome. Clinical expr ession is variable since the lesion may affect any area of the gastrointest inal tract and any layer of the wall. Exegesis. - A 25-year-old male patient had digestive symptoms such as perit oneal, obstructive and diarrheal signs, associated with blood eosinophilia, giving evidence for eosinophilic jejuno-ileitis. Computer tomography revea led an extensive obstruction of the jejuno-ileum and thickening of the inte stinal wall. The diagnosis was obtained using laparoscopy and controlled we dge biopsy, which showed a predominantly external infiltration of the intes tinal wall by eosinophils. The disease evolution was favorable with cortico steroid therapy. Conclusion. - Worrying and persistent digestive symptomatology associated w ith blood eosinophilia, particularly when intestinal wall infiltration is r evealed by computer tomography, should lead one to perform a laparoscopy to guide a surgical biopsy of the intestinal wall. (C) 2001 Editions scientif iques et medicales Elsevier SAS.