INTRODUCTION: The finding of eosinophilic ascites is unusual. It requires the search for the main etiology, i.e., parasitic or malignant disease, vasculitis or hypereosinophilic syndrome. The diagnosis of exclusion is either mucosal, muscular or serous eosinophilic gastroenteritis. This last type, the most unusual--as less than 50 cases have been documented until now--is associated with eosinophilic ascites. EXEGESIS: We report a new case of serous eosinophilic gastroenteritis that occurred in a 23-year-old woman. This case was unusual because of its clinical history, as abdominal pain fits (along with the occurrence of ascites) were associated with urticaria fits. The lack of eosinophils in both the blood counts and the various digestive biopsies were unusual too. The disease evolution was favorable with corticosteroid therapy; however, a minimal dose of 8 mg/day was necessary to control the disease symptoms. CONCLUSION: Because of its association with urticaria fits, this case emphasizes the need for differential diagnosis in patients with hypereosinophilic syndrome and food allergy.
INTRODUCTION: The finding of eosinophilic ascites is unusual. It requires the search for the main etiology, i.e., parasitic or malignant disease, vasculitis or hypereosinophilic syndrome. The diagnosis of exclusion is either mucosal, muscular or serous eosinophilic gastroenteritis. This last type, the most unusual--as less than 50 cases have been documented until now--is associated with eosinophilic ascites. EXEGESIS: We report a new case of serous eosinophilic gastroenteritis that occurred in a 23-year-old woman. This case was unusual because of its clinical history, as abdominal pain fits (along with the occurrence of ascites) were associated with urticaria fits. The lack of eosinophils in both the blood counts and the various digestive biopsies were unusual too. The disease evolution was favorable with corticosteroid therapy; however, a minimal dose of 8 mg/day was necessary to control the disease symptoms. CONCLUSION: Because of its association with urticaria fits, this case emphasizes the need for differential diagnosis in patients with hypereosinophilic syndrome and food allergy.
Authors: L M Fenoglio; V Benedetti; C Rossi; A Anania; K Wulhfard; M Trapani; E Scalabrino; G Alberto; D Novero; P Cavalloperin Journal: Dig Dis Sci Date: 2003-05 Impact factor: 3.199
Authors: Manuel Jimenez-Saenz; Jose Luis Villar-Rodriguez; Yolanda Torres; Isabel Carmona; Ernesto Salas-Herrero; Jesus Gonzalez-Vilches; Juan M Herrerias-Gutierrez Journal: Dig Dis Sci Date: 2003-03 Impact factor: 3.199
Authors: Ivo Quack; Lorenz Sellin; Nikolaus J Buchner; Dirk Theegarten; Lars C Rump; Bernhard F Henning Journal: BMC Gastroenterol Date: 2005-07-18 Impact factor: 3.067