E. Redondo-cerezo et al., Eosinophilic gastroenteritis: Our recent experience - One-year experience of atypical onset of an uncommon disease, SC J GASTR, 36(12), 2001, pp. 1358-1360
Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is an unusual entity that is rarely found in d
aily clinical practise. Its actiology is unknown and diagnosis can be made
microscopically with evidence of massive eosinophilic infiltration in patie
nts with chronic gastrointestinal symptoms, excluding entities that may cau
se such findings (parasitic infestation, medical therapy, inflammatory bowe
l disease, and so on). Allergic processes are usually associated and these
normally respond well to steroids. We present our last year's experience of
four women with eosinophilic gastroenteritis with an extraordinary atypica
l clinical onset. Two of the women presented with an acute abdomen and two
with isolated colonic involvement. The management of acute abdomen avoiding
surgery and a complete response with azathioprine Lire the outstanding var
iables that make our recent cases of special interest. Demographic variable
s were similar to others reported from our medium, with the exception of a
higher incidence of women. Our cases suggest the wide spectrum of clinical
presentations and show the high suspicion index needed for a diagnosis that
is made by pathologists.