Tahir Dawood, Ginnaram Shravya, Ikonomi Erkanda
Department of Internal Medicine, Jefferson Abington Hospital, Abington, PA, USA.
Department of Gastroenterology, Jefferson Abington Hospital, Abington, PA, USA.
J Med Cases. 2024 Jun;15(6):102-105. doi: 10.14740/jmc4196. Epub 2024 May 25.
Eosinophilic enteritis (EoN) poses a distinctive challenge, affecting individuals with various clinical presentations depending on the layer and extent of the bowel wall. We present a case of a 19-year-old female with abdominal pain, vomiting, and loose stools for 1 month. Labs were significant for persistent leukocytosis with peripheral eosinophilia. A computed tomography of the abdomen/pelvis demonstrated moderate abdominal ascites and moderately diffuse mucosal thickening of jejunal loops. A diagnostic paracentesis unveiled low serum ascites albumin gradient and 92% eosinophils. Push enteroscopy resulted in no significant biopsy findings, though a laparoscopic full-thickness jejunal biopsy exhibited increased eosinophils in the bowel wall. Intravenous steroid, proton pump inhibitor, and dietary changes resolved the symptoms and normalized the labs within a week. Our case report highlights a variable presentation of eosinophilic jejunitis uncommon in this disease population. EoN is an easily missed diagnosis and mandates frequent follow-up to prompt relevant investigations. Atopic clinical features are not prevalent in each case. While rare, EoN requires a strong clinical suspicion, even if endoscopic biopsies are unremarkable, prompting timely laparoscopic full-thickness biopsy. Per protocol, physicians must do the infectious and eosinophilia workup to rule out other etiologies. Our case also highlights that worsening clinical condition in EoN warrants early intravenous steroids with a favorable prognosis and considers a psychosocial aspect of the disease on the patient's health.
嗜酸性粒细胞性肠炎(EoN)带来了独特的挑战,根据肠壁的层次和范围,会影响具有不同临床表现的个体。我们报告一例19岁女性,有腹痛、呕吐及腹泻1个月。实验室检查显示持续性白细胞增多伴外周血嗜酸性粒细胞增多。腹部/盆腔计算机断层扫描显示中度腹腔积液和空肠袢中度弥漫性黏膜增厚。诊断性腹腔穿刺显示血清腹水白蛋白梯度低,嗜酸性粒细胞占92%。推进式小肠镜检查未发现显著活检结果,不过腹腔镜全层空肠活检显示肠壁嗜酸性粒细胞增多。静脉使用类固醇、质子泵抑制剂及饮食调整使症状在一周内缓解,实验室检查结果恢复正常。我们的病例报告强调了嗜酸性粒细胞性空肠炎在该疾病人群中不常见的多样表现。EoN容易漏诊,需要频繁随访以促使进行相关检查。特应性临床特征并非在每个病例中都普遍存在。虽然罕见,但EoN需要高度临床怀疑,即使内镜活检无明显异常,也应及时进行腹腔镜全层活检。按照方案,医生必须进行感染性疾病和嗜酸性粒细胞增多症的检查以排除其他病因。我们的病例还强调,EoN病情恶化时应早期静脉使用类固醇,预后良好,并考虑该疾病对患者健康的社会心理方面的影响。