Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis : Brief Review

Acta Gastroenterol Belg. 2016 Apr-Jun;79(2):239-44.

Abstract

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) is a rare disease which belongs to primary eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (primary EGIDs), characterized by an accumulation of eosinophils in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and is strongly associated with atopy and allergy. The clinical presentations vary depending on the site and depth of eosinophilic intestinal infiltration. Radiology pictures may show irregular thickening of the folds, but these findings can also be present in other conditions like inflammatory bowel disease and lymphoma. The endoscopic appearance is also nonspecific. The definite diagnosis requires biopsy for histological evidence of GI eosinophilic infiltration and clinicians make the diagnosis in correlation with and by exclusion of other possible causes of eosinophilic infiltration. Because EGE is a rare disease, the treatment is based on limited case reports and clinicians' experience. Corticosteroids are the mainstay of therapy. The prognosis of EGE is relatively good when patients receive timely and proper treatment.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acetates / therapeutic use
  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use*
  • Biopsy
  • Cromolyn Sodium / therapeutic use
  • Cyclopropanes
  • Endoscopy, Digestive System*
  • Enteritis / diagnosis*
  • Enteritis / drug therapy
  • Eosinophilia / diagnosis*
  • Eosinophilia / drug therapy
  • Gastritis / diagnosis*
  • Gastritis / drug therapy
  • Histamine H1 Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Infliximab / therapeutic use
  • Intestine, Small / diagnostic imaging
  • Intestine, Small / pathology*
  • Ketotifen / therapeutic use
  • Leukotriene Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Mercaptopurine / therapeutic use
  • Quinolines / therapeutic use
  • Stomach / diagnostic imaging
  • Stomach / pathology*
  • Sulfides
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Acetates
  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Cyclopropanes
  • Histamine H1 Antagonists
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Leukotriene Antagonists
  • Quinolines
  • Sulfides
  • Infliximab
  • Mercaptopurine
  • montelukast
  • Cromolyn Sodium
  • Ketotifen

Supplementary concepts

  • Eosinophilic enteropathy