[Eosinophilic ascites. 2 new case reports].

Two new cases of eosinophilic ascites and a brief review of 40 cases found in the literature are presented. In three quarters of the cases eosinophilic ascites affects women aged 40 years on average. Because the patients present with a history of allergy (55%), blood hypereosinophilia (69%), associated pleural effusion (11%), gastrointestinal disorders and, above all, eosinophilic infiltrations in the walls of the digestive tract or the serous membranes (63%), this pathology may be regarded as a clinical form or eosinophilic gastroenteritis. The outcome is favourable in 90% of the cases; relapses occur in 26%. Is eosinophilic gastroenteritis and independent pathological entity, or should it be considered a minor clinical form of Chusid's idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome? The lack of decisive arguments precludes a firm conclusion.