Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis as the Initial Manifestation of Hypereosinophilic Syndrome
Eosinophilic gastroenteritis in Hypereosinophilic Syndrome
Vol. 8 No. 2 : 2013 (94-99)
Abstract
Eosinophilic gastroenteritis, an inflammatory disease of unknown etiology, commonly involves the stomach and small intestine with eosinophilic infiltration. Here, we report an unusual case of eosinophilic gastroenteritis involving the entire digestive tract as a manifestation of hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES). A 22-year-old woman presented to us with diarrhoea, pleural effusion, ascites and marked peripheral oeosinophilia. Stool specimens were negative for parasites, ova, bacteria, and fungi. Endoscopic studies showed pangastritis and duodenitis. Biopsy specimens of the oesophagus, stomach, duodenum, ileum, and colon demonstrated oeosinophilic infiltration. A diagnosis of hypereosinophilic syndrome with eosinophilic gastroenteritis involving the entire digestive tract was made. Hence, she was treated with prednisolone. Symptoms and peripheral oeosinophilia rapidly resolved with treatment, and radiological investigations revealed resolution of effusion. This case illustrates the wide spectrum of clinical manifestation of the disease, whereby it involves the entire digestive tract and it also emphasizes the diagnostic yields of endoscopic biopsies.
Keywords :
corticosteroids,
endoscopic biopsies,
hypereosinophilic syndrome,
oeosinophilic gastroenteritis,
Correspondance Address
Assoc Prof. Dr. Rajalingham Sakthiswary, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Jalan Yaacob Latif, Bandar Tun Razak, 56000 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tel: +603-91456097 Fax: +603-91456679 Email: sakthis5@hotmail.com
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