Eosinophilic esophagitis: Update in diagnosis and management. Position paper by the Italian Society of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (SIGE)

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic immune-mediated disease of the esophagus characterized by symptoms related to esophageal dysfunction, as well as significant esophageal eosinophilia.The entity exists worldwide but has been most extensively studied in Western countries. However, a wide range of symptoms has been noticed such as chest pain or gastro-esophageal reflux disease-like symptoms. Upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy and esophageal biopsies are crucial for the diagnosis. Endoscopy might be normal or reveal typical patterns such as rings, furrows, exudates, edema, and stricture. Two to four biopsies should be performed both in the distal and in the proximal esophagus, and 15 eosinophils per high power field within the esophageal epithelium are the minimal threshold to diagnose eosinophilic esophagitis.Allergy testing is recommended, although its impact to orient treatment remains to be demonstrated. Eosinophilic esophagitis treatment includes medical treatment, diet and endoscopic dilation. Proton pump inhibitors are the first-line therapy as up to 50% of patients respond well to proton pump inhibitors irrespective of objective evidence of GERD. Topical viscous corticosteroids or elimination diet are the treatment of choice in case of unresponsiveness to proton pump inhibitors.     

1003例急性白血病骨髓中嗜酸粒细胞的观察

１００３例急白骨髓中Ｅ数量、阶段及形态的观察结果表明各类急白均有Ｅ的异常改变，以Ｍ４ＥＯ尤为显著，Ｍ２ａ、Ｍ２ｂ及Ｍ５ｂ的部分病例亦有较明显的数量及形态异常，Ｍ３和ＡＬＬ的变化较轻微。检出的Ｅ以幼稚阶段为主，成熟阶段较少，且幼稚Ｅ的形态改变比成熟Ｅ明显，呈核左移及核浆发育不平衡现象。Ｍ４ＥＯ均有明显的Ｅ形态异常改变，Ｅ及幼稚Ｅ均＞０．０５；认为Ｍ４ＥＯ的诊断标准以骨髓非红系中Ｅ＞０．０５为宜，同时必须强调形态的异常改变，尤其是幼稚Ｅ的异常改变。     

全胃切除间置空肠变法空肠代胃术20例报告

报告全胃切除间胃空肠变法空肠代胃术２０例。方法：全胃切除并淋巴结扩清后，距屈氏韧带８０ｃｍ切断空肠及其系膜，肛侧端闭锁，于１５ｃｍ行空肠侧侧吻合，于３５ｃｍ用粗丝线结扎肠管并于结扎线上下各１ｃｍ缝合浆肌层一周形成中隔，于４０ｃｍ行食管空肠端侧吻合。空肠口侧与十二指肠端端吻合。优点：１）食物通过十二指肠符合生理。２）有效地防止返流性食管炎。３）如发生吻合瘘则有利于瘘的愈合。     

Eosinophilic aseptic arachnoiditis. A neurological complication in HIV-negative drug-addicts

The finding of an eosinophilic aseptic meningitis in IV drug abuse is usually suggestive of an opportunistic infection or an allergic reaction. However, HIV-negative patients are at lower risk for developing these complications. Two young HIV-negative patients, with previous intravenous polytoxicomany, developed cystic arachnoiditis over the spinal cord associated with eosinophilic meningitis. Histology of the meningeal spinal cord lesions revealed a vasculocentric mixed inflammatory reaction. In one patient prednisone led to marked clinical improvement. Since infection, vasculitis, sarcoidosis and previous myelography were ruled out, we believe that the syndrome of eosinophilic aseptic arachnoiditis may be related to an hyperergic reaction in the meniges toward drug-adulterants inoculated through the intravenous route. Received: 24 October 2001, Received in revised form: 15 January 2002, Accepted: 21 January 2002     

Chronic eosinophilic perimyositis with persistent myalgias

A 43-year-old man with an 8-year history of hypereosinophilia was evaluated for persistent muscle pain. Methotrexate and corticosteroids were ineffective. Examination, limited by pain even with passive motion, showed only mild weakness. Electromyography and muscle enzymes were normal. A needle muscle biopsy specimen revealed eosinophilic perimyositis. This case illustrates that the diagnosis of eosinophilic perimyositis requires histopathological evaluation, which should be pursued in patients with eosinophilia and persistent myalgia despite normal electromyography and muscle enzymes.     

Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis of the sinonasal tract: report on the clinicopathologic features of a case and review of the literature

BACKGROUND: Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis (EAF) is a rare fibroinflammatory lesion of the sinonasal tract that occurs mainly in young to middle-aged female patients. Only two previous cases affecting male patients have been reported, and its etiopathogenesis remains unknown. The authors report on the third case of the entity in a male patient and review the 12 previously reported cases. CASE REPORT: A 52-year-old male patient was initially seen with a 15 years history of allergic rhinitis, progressive nasal obstruction, and left-sided hearing loss. All laboratory tests were unremarkable, except the nasal discharge eosinophil count that showed a conspicuous eosinophilia. The video-assisted-nasofibroscopic examination and CT scans disclosed a thickened deviated nasal septum with a subjacent infiltrative lesion. The histologic analysis of the nasal septum showed a variable mixed inflammatory cellular infiltration mainly composed of eosinophils, plasma cells, and histiocytes with a perivascular distribution; in other areas, an angiocentric fibrosing lesion with a peculiar perivascular onion-skin pattern was observed. The patient had a partial resection of the lesion with symptomatic control. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of rhinitis and nasal eosinophilia in our case associated with the clinical aspects of the previously reported cases further support an allergic cause for EAF.