Unusual endoscopic presentation of eosinophilic gastroenteropathy.

An 11-year-old boy with extensive food and environmental allergies, and poorly controlled eosinophilic gastroenteropathy (EG) over an 8-year period was evaluated as a referral patient. At presentation, he was hypogammaglobulinemic and was being managed with allergy test-directed food avoidance, oral proton pump inhibitors therapy, iron supplementation, second generation antihistaminic and subcutaneous immunotherapy. His history was significant for severe anemia requiring transfusion on two occasions, hematemesis, and hypoalbuminemia. Capsule endoscopy revealed scattered focal erythematous flat, erosive lesions in the duodenum and jejunum.

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed multiple pseudo-polyps in the antrum (Fig. 1A), and numerous prominent linear furrows were observed in the body and the lesser curvature (Fig. 1B). The pseudopolyps in antrum were arranged symmetrically and appeared to track towards the antroduodenal opening. Histopathological examination of biopsies obtained from the body, antrum and pseudopolyp revealed markedly increased eosinophils (63, 121 and 57 eosinophils/high power field, respectively) without mucosal erosion or ulceration, increased chronic inflammatory cells, lymphoid aggregates, or features of inflammatory bowel disease (Fig. 2). No Helicobacter-like organisms or viral inclusions were seen. The endoscopic appearance and histopathological evaluation of the esophagus, duodenum and colon were unremarkable. This patient was initiated on 6-mercaptopurine with follow-up endoscopy planned.

Figure 1

(A) Symmetrically distributed pseudopolyps over antrum. (B) Furrowing noted over lesser curvature of the stomach

Figure 2

Antral polyp with markedly increased eosinophils without increased chronic inflammatory cells, consistent with eosinophilic gastritis. The mucosa is intact and without erosion or ulceration (H&E, original magnification 200x)

EG is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by diffuse eosinophilic infiltration in the mucosa of the stomach and/or small intestine, as seen with the present case [1]. While EG presenting as erythema, friable mucosa with or without ulceration and gastric/duodenal pseudopolyps have been previously reported [2], the unusual presentation of multiple gastric pseudopolyps with furrowing is being reported for the first time, and this could be a feature of long-standing EG.