Eosinophilic gastroenteritis with obstruction. Immunological studies of seven patients.

We studied 7 patients with eosinophilic gastroenteritis presenting with obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract. Five had required surgical treatment for relief of obstructive symptoms or because of diagnostic uncertainty. Immunological studies, including serum immunoglobulins, serum complement, lymphocyte quantitation, and lymphocyte response to nonspecific mitogens revealed no striking abnormalities. None was clinically allergic or food sensitive, and serum IgE was normal in all. A review of the literature since 1970 suggests that the obstructive form of eosinophilic gastroenteritis accounts for about half of the reported cases. Allergy, especially hypersensitivity to food, is not required for the diagnosis.