J Korean Surg Soc.  2001 May;60(5):570-574.

A Case of Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis of Small Bowel with a Rupture

• Woo JK
• Jo WB
• Yeon SK

Abstract

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is a rare disease of unknown etiology. It is characterized by the infiltration of the gastrointestinal tract by mature eosinophils, and increased peripheral eosinophil count and associated with various food allergies. Clinical manifestations were related to the site of histologic infiltration in the wall and the segment of the involved gastrointestinal tract. Recently, the authors experienced one case of eosinophilic gastroenteritis of the small bowel with spontaneous rupture that was managed by segmental resection of ileum and end to end anastomosis. Four years previous, he has undergone segmental resection of the ileum due to ileum perforation of unknown etiology. The peripheral blood eosinophil count of this case was normal but the IgE level was elevated. Microscopically, there was a dense infiltration of eosinophils throughout the entire thickness of the ileal wall, particularly in the muscle layer. The patient recovered well, but had one episode of abdominal pain with diarrhea and those symptoms were improved following the administration of corticosteroids. A brief review of the etiology, pathology, clinical features, diagnosis and management of this disease is presented.

Keyword

Eosinophilic gatroenteritis; Small bowel perforation

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Diagnosis
Diarrhea
Eosinophils*
Food Hypersensitivity
Gastroenteritis*
Gastrointestinal Tract
Humans
Ileum
Immunoglobulin E
Pathology, Clinical
Rare Diseases
Rupture*
Rupture, Spontaneous
Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Immunoglobulin E