ABSTRACT
A 23-year-old woman from the French Antilles was successfully treated for intestinal and hepatic schistosomiasis, as evidenced by the normalization of immunofluorescence titers and many negative histogogical controls. She presented, however, persistent colitis with marked eosinophilia (eosinophils in excess of 50,000/mm3). No precise diagnosis could be established in spite of all parasitological, allergological, hematological and gastroenterological investigations. The colon was the only organ involved and showed colitis of a type unclassifiable both endoscopically and histologically. Massive infiltration by eosinophils was present. Temporary relief was achieved with steroids but the clinical condition of the patient became dramatic. Three years after the onset of the illness total colectomy was performed, sparing the rectum. After surgery all manifestations of disease disappeared and for ten months the number of eosinophils was normal. Ileorectal continuity could be re-established. Ten months after reanastomosis there was recurrence of bleeding from the rectum and eosiophils once again reached levels of 2340/mm3. The differential diagnosis of this colitis associated with eosinophilia is discussed. To our knowledge it does not correspond to any clinical entity described so far.
