Last update:
13-Nov-2007

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is a rare inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract of unknown etiology. It mainly affects stomach and bowel and biopsies are showing diffuse eosinophilic infiltration. The clinical spectrum of eosinophilic gastroenteritis is largely heterogeneous; it may present with chronic or acute symptoms in any part of the gastrointestinal tract. A 65-year old woman was admitted in the department of Internal Medicine because of insisting upper abdominal pain for the last fifteen days. Laboratory examination showed hyperglyceamia and eosinophilia with eosinophil count at 4,500/mm³. Colonoscopy showed diverticulae while large bowel biopsies showed diffuse eosinophilic infiltrations. Differential diagnosis was focused between eosinophilic and allergic colitis, however no evidence was supportive for allergic colitis diagnosis. The patient was started on therapy with 16 mg of methylprednizolone per os and in a two-week time peripheral blood eosinophil count was stabilized at 850-1,000/mm³. Differential diagnosis between allergic and eosinophilic colitis is often difficult as there are many overlapping features and careful patient assessment is nessecary. In addition, every patient with peripheral blood eosinophilia and bowel symptoms should be carefully investigated for a variety of underlying causes of eosinophilia before any kind of treatment is initiated.

Key words: Allergy, Colitis, Eosinophils, Eosinophilic colitis, Gastroenteric system, Intestine.