Eosinophilic gastroenteritis: Clinical characteristics and management

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Immunology
• Pathology

Background:

• Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) is a rare condition with limited published data.
• Understanding EGE's clinical features, management, and outcomes is crucial for patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the clinical characteristics, management strategies, and follow-up outcomes of patients diagnosed with EGE.
• To provide insights into the diagnosis and treatment of EGE.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 41 patients with suspected EGE from March 2014 to December 2018.
• Diagnostic methods included complete blood count, upper GI endoscopy (UGIE) with biopsy, and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) when obstruction was suspected.
• EGE diagnosis required >30 eosinophils per high power field (HPF) in GI biopsies; treatment involved immunosuppressants and/or surgery.

Main Results:

• Forty-one patients (29 males, mean age 34.8 years) were diagnosed with EGE.
• Upper abdominal pain was the most common symptom; 82.9% had peripheral eosinophilia.
• UGIE revealed duodenal lesions in 75%; corticosteroids were effective in 100% of treated patients, with rare relapses.

Conclusions:

• EGE should be considered in patients presenting with upper abdominal pain and peripheral eosinophilia.
• Tissue biopsy confirming eosinophilic infiltration is diagnostic for EGE.
• Oral corticosteroid therapy is a highly effective treatment for EGE with a low relapse rate.