Eosinophilic gastroenteropathy in childhood.

Eosinophilic gastroenteropathy (EG) is an uncommon, idiopathic disease in children that is characterized by eosinophilic inflammation of the intestine. Over a 7-year period 17 infants and children with EG were evaluated; the retrospective review of their clinical data constitutes the basis of this report. A scale developed for grading the degree of mucosal eosinophilia was used in the evaluation of the intestinal histopathology; all patients had eosinophilic infiltration that was far more severe than that seen in other intestinal disorders of childhood. Peripheral eosinophilia was observed in 12 patients. However, two more had evidence of rapid turnover of eosinophils with significantly increased numbers of precursors in bone marrow and intense intestinal infiltration. Serum IgE correlated with the severity of the disease; extreme elevations were associated with chronic severe illness similar to that commonly reported in adults. Evidence of viral infection in two patients and dietary responsiveness in two infants bring to question the specificity of diagnosis on histology alone. Treatment with oral cromolyn sodium and/or prednisone was effective, but some patients have remained dependent upon therapy.