Successful Treatment of Steroid-resistant Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disease with Mepolizumab

Intern Med. 2023 Dec 1;62(23):3461-3467. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.0801-22. Epub 2023 Apr 21.

Abstract

We experienced a case of treatment-resistant eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease (EGID). The patient, a 46-year-old man, presented with a fever, persistent abdominal pain, and an elevated peripheral eosinophil count. Eosinophil infiltration of the intestinal mucosa was also observed, and EGID was diagnosed. Corticosteroid therapy was initiated, but no improvement was seen. However, after mepolizumab (anti-interleukin 5 antibody) was administered, the patient's disease was controlled. Currently, the indications for mepolizumab are limited to bronchial asthma and paraneoplastic eosinophilic polyangiitis, but the experience herein reported suggests its usefulness in the treatment of EGID.

Keywords: asthma; corticosteroids; eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease; mepolizumab.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use
  • Asthma*
  • Gastrointestinal Diseases*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Steroids

Substances

  • mepolizumab
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • Steroids

Supplementary concepts

  • Eosinophilic enteropathy