Eosinophilic gastroenteritis: a review

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is a clinicopathological disease affecting both children and adults that is characterized by patchy or diffuse eosinophilic infiltration of the gastrointestinal tract with variable resultant clinical gastrointestinal manifestations. The eosinophil, eotaxin, and Th-2 cytokines are important in pathogenesis of this disease entity. It may be confused with parasitic and bacterial infections (including Helicobacter pylori), inflammatory bowel disease, hypereosinophilic syndrome, myeloproliferative disorders, periarteritis, allergic vasculitis, scleroderma, drug injury, and drug hypersensivity. Obtaining the correct diagnosis is important, and a pathologist usually makes this distinction. Effective treatments include systemic/topical corticosteroids, specific food elimination or an elemental diet, certain drugs, and even surgery. A variety of new therapeutic approaches are now under trial.     

Chronic eosinophilic leukaemia (CEL): a distinct myeloproliferative disease

Chronic eosinophilic leukaemia has not yet been clearly defined, mainly due to the fact that it has not been conclusively shown as a monoclonal disease which should be separated from chronic myelogenous leukaemia, acute myelogenous leukaemia with eosinophilia (AML, FAB M4Eo), and the idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome.
We report a patient with a white blood cell count of 17.6 × 10⁹/l with 74% eosinophils, normal platelet count and haemoglobin. No blasts were seen in the peripheral blood and the percentage of blasts in the bone marrow was <3%. A diagnosis of chronic eosinophilic leukaemia was made. Chromosome analysis of a bone marrow aspirate disclosed a trisomy 15 together with loss of the Y chromosome. Moreover, FISH analysis on May-Grünwald-Giemsa-stained peripheral blood smears demonstrated trisomy 15 in the eosinophils. 3 months after initial diagnosis the patient went into blast crisis and died. The blast cells exhibited trisomy 15 and loss of the Y chromosome in a complex, aberrant karyotype.
In conclusion, the case shows that chronic eosinophilic leukaemia is a monoclonal, myeloproliferative disease with eosinophils as part of the malignant clone. Clinically, chronic eosinophilic leukaemia can be separated into a chronic phase and a blast crisis.     

Colonoscopic features of eosinophilic gastroenteritis

This report describes the colonoscopic findings in a patient with eosinophilic gastroenteritis and the effect of treatment upon the course of the disease. Clinical manifestations and treatment depend upon the site of bowel involvement. The patient had mucosal involvement of stomach and small intestine, but colonoscopy demonstrated extensive colorectal involvement, most severe distally. We suggest fiberoptic sigmoidoscopy as an alternative diagnostic modality.     

Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis with eosinophilic gastroenteritis: An unusual relationship

Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis (MRH) is a rare disease with poorly defined therapeutic strategies. Here, we report the case of a patient with eosinophilic gastroenteritis who developed MRH after 5 years. The patient presented with disabling and rapidly progressive polyarthralgia, eosinophilic gastroenteritis, and resistance to first-line therapies. However, there was a marked improvement in the arthritis symptoms following treatment with tofacitinib. This presentation provides a useful perspective for the therapeutic management of complex scenarios involving MRH.     

Interleukin-5 in eosinophilic gastroenteritis.

During a 4-year period a 28-year-old female had 4 episodes of eosinophilia of over 10,000/mu 1; these episodes were associated with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. On one occasion, she had ascites and pleural effusion which contained numerous mature eosinophils. On each occasion, these attacks disappeared within several weeks without any specific treatment. A diagnosis of eosinophilic gastroenteritis was made. A plasma sample obtained during the eosinophilia generated in vitro eosinophilic colonies when added to granulocyte/macrophage-progenitor (CFU-GM) cultures without exogenous growth factors. Colony formation was inhibited by anti-interleukin-5 (IL-5) antibody but not by antibodies toward IL-3, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) or GM-CSF. A high plasma interleukin-5 (IL-5) level was noted when measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, while IL-3, G-CSF, and GM-CSF were undetectable. During remission the plasma gave negative results both for colony formation and IL-5 level. These results indicate that the eosinophilia of this disease is mediated by IL-5.     

嗜酸性粒细胞性胃肠炎的临床诊治分析

[目的]探讨嗜酸性粒细胞性胃肠炎患者的临床表现及诊治。[方法]回顾性分析21例嗜酸性粒细胞性胃肠炎患者的分型、临床表现、实验室检查、特殊检查和临床疗效等指标。[结果]21例嗜酸性粒细胞性胃肠炎患者均有不同程度的嗜酸性粒细胞计数和百分比增高。临床分型:黏膜型17例、浆膜型4例、肌型0例。胃镜活检部位为十二指肠降部3例,十二指肠球部11例和胃窦部4例。肠镜活检部位为降结肠2例,横结肠1例。病理学检查提示所有病理标本均有嗜酸性粒细胞浸润。对于激素(强的松)治疗反应良好。[结论]嗜酸性粒细胞性胃肠炎患者主要的临床表现为血液和消化道组织中嗜酸性粒细胞性增多,缺乏特异性内镜表现,强的松治疗反应良好。     

Toxocara canis infection presenting as eosinophilic ascites and gastroenteritis

Summary Eosinophilic ascites is rarely observed in clinical practice. It may be associated with the serosal type of eosinophilic gastroenteritis, abdominal lymphoma, hypereosinophilic syndrome, or peritoneal dialysis but is uncommonly related to parasitic infections. We report a case of a previously healthy young patient who developed diarrhea and exudative eosinophilic ascites. The final diagnosis was consistent with a parasitic infection due toToxocara canis, while the clinical and radiological findings suggested an eosinophilic gastroenteritis. The diagnostic approach, especially parasitic serological data, which must be carefully interpreted, are discussed; in addition, the possible pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the production of ascites are evoked.     

Use of montelukast as steroid-sparing agent for recurrent eosinophilic gastroenteritis

Patients with eosinophilic gastroenteritis generally respond well to corticosteroids but relapses are common. Patients with relapsing disease are usually placed on long-term low-dose prednisone or immunosuppressive therapy. Here we reported on a patient with severe steroid-dependent eosinophilic gastroenteritis who was able to successfully taper off steroids and maintain remission after starting montelukast, a leukotriene receptor antagonist. To our knowledge, this is the first use of montelukast as a steroid sparing agent for eosinophilic gastroenteritis.     

Two cases of eosinophilic gastroenteritis associated with analgesic-induced bronchial asthma

Abstract Two patients (one male and one female) with bronchial asthma were diagnosed as having eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EG). The condition was revealed by biopsies through fibrescopic endoscopy. According to the Klein classification, they had mucosal disease. The symptoms were abdominal pain and nausea. The symptoms subsided with corticosteroid administration in one patient and with palliative treatment in the other patient. It was suggested that fibrescopic endoscopy biopsy is needed to identify coexisting EG if a bronchial asthma patient complains of severe gastrointestinal symptoms.     

溃疡性结肠炎合并烟雾病1例报道

1名47岁女性患者确诊溃疡性结肠炎6年,黏液血便间断发作,多次住院治疗.本次住院后出现头晕、视物模糊症状,头颅MRA和血管造影提示烟雾病,行右侧颅内外动脉血管吻合术加颞肌贴敷术,术后头晕和视物模糊症状改善.结合患者症状出现的先后顺序,考虑烟雾病系溃疡性结肠炎的罕见肠外表现.     

A rare cause of abdominal pain: eosinophilic gastroenteritis

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is a disease that is characterised by an eosinophil-driven inflammation of the digestive tract, presenting with non-specific symptoms, including abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhoea. The diagnosis is established by histopathological analysis revealing eosinophilic infiltration of the lamina propria. The disease is relatively rare but a proper diagnosis is important, since specific treatment may limit the disease severity and progression.     

Eosinophilic ascites as an uncommon presentation of eosinophilic gastroenteritis: A case report

BackgroundEosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) is defined by the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms, with an abnormal eosinophilic infiltrate of the intestine wall and exclusion of other causes of secondary eosinophilia. EGE has three clinical presentations, depending on the depth of eosinophilic infiltration of the bowel wall. It individualizes into three types, namely mucosal, muscular, and subserosal. Eosinophilic ascites, which is caused by edema and eosinophilic inflammation of the serosal layer of the small bowel wall, is the most uncommon presentation of EGE.Case summaryA 30-year-old Egyptian woman presented with pain in the epigastrium and diffuse abdominal distension. Past medical history comprised allergy to iron injections (for iron deficiency anemia). Clinical examination showed moderate abdominal distention (palpation) and shifting dullness (percussion) suggestive of moderate ascites; mild right pleural effusion was also suspected, but findings were otherwise unremarkable. Abdominal and pelvic examinations by ultrasound and contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed moderate ascites, mild right pleural effusion, and diffuse thickening of the antrum and small bowel loops. Endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract revealed mild diffuse hyperemia of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum, with no relevant findings in the histopathology of biopsy specimens taken from these sites. Laboratory results showed eosinophilia in the peripheral blood and marked increase of eosinophils in the ascitic fluid. Treatment with corticosteroids resulted in normalization of the laboratory test results, and the ascites resolved within a week of initiation of therapy.ConclusionEosinophilic ascites, characterized by increased eosinophils in peripheral blood and ascitic fluid, showed dramatic response to steroid therapy.     

Perforated duodenal ulcer: An unusual manifestation of allergic eosinophilic gastroenteritis

Spontaneous perforation of a duodenal ulcer secondary to allergic eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) has not been previously reported. We present such a case in a teenager who presented with peritonitis. After exploration and operative repair of his ulcer, he continued to experience intermittent abdominal pain, and further evaluation revealed eosinophilic gastroenteritis in the setting of multiple food allergies. His EGE resolved after adhering to a restrictive diet. Both duodenal ulcers and EGE are very rarely seen in pediatric patients. EGE has a variable presentation depending on the layer(s) of bowel wall affected and the segment of the gastrointestinal tract that is involved. Once diagnosed, it may respond to dietary changes in patients with recognized food allergies, or to steroids in patients in whom an underlying cause is not identified. Our case highlights the need to keep EGE in the differential diagnosis when treating pediatric patients with duodenal ulcers. The epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of EGE are also discussed, along with a review of the current literature.     

Eosinophilic cholangitis coexisted with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura: Report of a case

Eosinophilic cholangitis is a rare disease of which only 31 cases have been reported. Eosinophilic infiltration causes stricture of the bile duct diffusely or locally, and the imaging of eosinophilic cholangitis resembles primary sclerosing cholangitis or cancer of the bile tract. For eosinophilic cholangitis, treatment with steroid is effective and the prognosis is good. Therefore, its accurate diagnosis is very important. Here, we describe a patient with eosinophilic cholangitis who was also diagnosed with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). He was treated for ITP using prednisolone, the unexpected sudden interruption of which caused severe deterioration of eosinophilic cholangitis and acute cholecystitis. Cholecystectomy and choledochojejunostomy were performed, and the addition of treatment by prednisolone resulted in a good clinical course. This is the first report on eosinophilic cholangitis coexisting with ITP.     

Biliary colic treatment and acute cholecystitis prevention by prostaglandin inhibitor

Sixty patients were treated in the emergency ward for biliary colic. Cholelithiasis was proven by ultrasonography. Twenty patients (group I) were treated by placebo. Twenty patients (group II) were treated by papaverine, and 20 patients were treated by diclofenac sodium (Voltaren) (group III). Twenty more patients (group IV) with low back pain (LBP) were treated with diclofenac sodium (Voltaren) as a control to assess the analgesic effect of Voltaren. Two interesting observations were made: Voltaren was proven more efficient for pain relief (P<0.002), and none of the patients treated with Voltaren were in need of hospitalization and immediate surgery. In comparison, nine patients of the other two groups progressed to acute cholecystitis and needed surgical intervention. The possible anticolic and anti-biliary inflammation properties and the indications for use of Voltaren are discussed.     

Follow up on atopy and the gastrointestinal tract – a review of a common association 2018

Introduction: Primary atopic disorders can be classified as heritable genetic disorders presenting with deregulated pathogenic allergic effector responses irrespective of sensitization. In the last decade, there are parallel rises in the burden of atopic and gastrointestinal (GI) diseases.

Areas covered: There is increasing recognition of an association between atopy and GI disease through immune dysregulation, the microbiome and shared genetic pathways. Since the first article on atopy and the GI tract in 2014 in this journal, many more studies have shed light on the shared pathways in these diseases, particularly in the field of eosinophilic GI disease, functional GI disorders, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Expert opinion: Understanding the links with common mechanisms in atopy and GI diseases that may lead to better targeting of treatment through manipulation of immune mechanisms, the microbiome, genetics, food allergens and specific GI diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, functional GI disorders.