Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EG) is characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the bowel wall and variable gastrointestinal manifestations. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for EG when faced with gastrointestinal symptoms and peripheral eosinophilia to avoid incorrect diagnosis and inappropriate treatments. A 24-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital complaining of acute right lower quadrant abdominal pain and a laparoscopic appendectomy performed for a presumed diagnosis of an acute appendicitis. However, the procedure revealed bowel edema and a moderate amount of ascites without evidence of a suppurative appendicitis. Postoperatively, she showed persistent and progressive eosinophilia, exudative eosinophilic ascites, eosinophilic infiltration of the resected appendix wall, and eosinophilic infiltration of gastroduodenal mucosa. A punch biopsy of the abdominal skin also revealed inflammation with marked eosinophilic infiltration of the skin. She recovered after the treatment with a low dose of steroid for the EG with eosinophilic dermatitis. EG with eosinophilic dermatitis has not been reported yet and is considered fortuitous in this case.
Adult ; Dermatitis/*diagnosis/drug therapy/pathology ; Eosinophilia/*diagnosis/drug therapy/pathology ; Female ; Gastroenteritis/*diagnosis/drug therapy/pathology ; Humans ; Steroids/therapeutic use ; Young Adult

I n some patients, eosinophilic gastroenteritis(EG) occurs in those with food allergy. We experienced a non-atopic asthmatic who had an EG associated with food allergy to fish and eggs, and blood eosinophilia. A skin prick test and RAST to causative food allergens showed a negative result. A fiber-optic endoscopic biopsy from the gastric mucosa showed an intense eosinophilic infiltration. We could find symptomatic improvement and a disappearance of eosinophilic infiltration in gastric mucosa after complete avoidance from the causative food and oral cortcosteroid. It was suggested that fiber-optic endoscopic biopsy might be needed to identify coexisting EG if an allergic patient with blood eosinophilia complains of severe gastrointestinal symptoms.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones/therapeutic use ; Asthma/*complications/drug therapy ; Case Report ; Endoscopy ; Eosinophilia/*complications ; Food Hypersensitivity/*complications ; Gastric Mucosa/pathology ; Gastroenteritis/*complications/diagnosis/pathology ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is a disease characterized by a granulomatous necrotizing vasculitis of small vessels. Although any organ systems can be involved, gastrointestinal involvement in WG is notably uncommon. We present a case of 67-year-old man who was admitted with abdominal pain and diarrhea lasting for 3 weeks. Colonoscopy and abdominal CT scan revealed vasculitis and multiple mesenteric lymphadenopathy. Jejunum and mesenteric lymph nodes biopsies confirmed limited form of WG. The present case indicates that WG might involve only gastrointestinal tract and the histological confirmation is important for diagnosis.
Aged ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use ; Colonoscopy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Gastroenteritis/complications/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Lymphatic Diseases/complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; Male ; Prednisolone/therapeutic use ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Wegener Granulomatosis/complications/*diagnosis/drug therapy

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is a disease characterized by a granulomatous necrotizing vasculitis of small vessels. Although any organ systems can be involved, gastrointestinal involvement in WG is notably uncommon. We present a case of 67-year-old man who was admitted with abdominal pain and diarrhea lasting for 3 weeks. Colonoscopy and abdominal CT scan revealed vasculitis and multiple mesenteric lymphadenopathy. Jejunum and mesenteric lymph nodes biopsies confirmed limited form of WG. The present case indicates that WG might involve only gastrointestinal tract and the histological confirmation is important for diagnosis.
Aged ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use ; Colonoscopy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Gastroenteritis/complications/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Lymphatic Diseases/complications/*diagnosis/pathology ; Male ; Prednisolone/therapeutic use ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Wegener Granulomatosis/complications/*diagnosis/drug therapy