Clinical Features of Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis / 胃肠病学

ABSTRACT

Background:The clinical presentation of eosinophilic gastroenteritis( EG)is nonspecific and has not received much concern by physicians and pathologists. The diagnosis of EG was delayed in many cases. Aims:To explore the clinical features of EG. Methods:The clinical,laboratory,endoscopic and radiologic features and treatment in patients who were diagnosed as EG from October 2011 to September 2013 in Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University were analyzed retrospectively. Results:Median age of 10 EG patients was 41. 9 years. Four patients had a history of allergy or asthma. The time from onset to diagnose was 25 days on average. The most common symptoms were abdominal pain with bloating, diarrhea or vomiting. Eight patients had hypereosinophilia. Abdominal CT revealed uniform edema or stratified thickness of intestinal wall or ascites in 7 patients. Endoscopy revealed erythema,edema and erosion in antrum,duodenum or jejunum in 6 patients. All cases were confirmed as having eosinophilic infiltration by mucosal biopsy or examination of ascites. Seven patients were successfully treated with corticosteroid. One patients experienced relapse after discontinuing corticosteroids during following up. Conclusions:EG may be more common than previously recognized and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained abdominal pain with peripheral eosinophilia or uniform edema or stratified thickness of intestinal wall. Multiple biopsies in multiple sites including descending duodenum and pathological examination for finding eosinophil infiltration are the keys to confirm the diagnosis. Corticosteroids are effective in relieving symptoms and improving eosinophilia.