Ewha Med J.  2013 Dec;36(Suppl):S14-S16. 10.12771/emj.2013.36.S.S14.

Eosinophilic Enteritis with Eosinophilic Ascites without Eosinophilia

• Hong SH
• Jeong JY
• Park SJ
• Lee JO
• Lee SY
• Woo SM
• You HJ

• KMID: 1726728
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12771/emj.2013.36.S.S14

Abstract

Eosinophilic enteritis is an uncommon disease of unknown cause characterized by eosinophilic infiltration in various areas of the gastrointestinal tract with symptoms. It is generally classified according to the layer of the gastrointestinal tract involved. Eosinophilic infiltration of the serosa is the rarest form of presentation and may manifest eosinophilic ascites. We report a case of a 47-year-old man who experienced progressing abdominal pain. A diffuse erythematous change of the gastric mucosa was observed on gastrofibroscopy. An abdominal computed tomography and colonoscopy showed diffuse wall thickening of the small bowel and colon with a small amount of ascites. Eosinophilic infiltration was confirmed by multiple biopsies of the gastrointestinal tract and peritoneal fluid analysis. The patient was treated with corticosteroid and responded dramatically.

Keyword

Eosinophilia; Eosinophilic ascites; Eosinophilic enteritis; Serosal eosinophilic enteritis

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Ascites*
Ascitic Fluid
Biopsy
Colon
Colonoscopy
Enteritis*
Eosinophilia*
Eosinophils*
Gastric Mucosa
Gastrointestinal Tract
Humans
Middle Aged
Serous Membrane

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Abdominal computed tomography finding. It shows diffuse wall thickening of ascending colon, cecum and ileum (enterocolitis) with small amount of ascites.

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  Fig. 2 Colonoscopic finding. It shows normal ileocecal valve areas.

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  Fig. 3 Pathologic finding of specimen from a laparoscopic mesenteric biopsy. It shows aggregates of eosinophils within the muscularis propria (H&E, ×600).

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