title: Eosinophilic gastroenteritis--a complex disease entity.
abstract: Although usually regarded as merely a manifestation of a simple food allergy, eosinophilic gastroenteritis remains a poorly understood disorder. Characterized by peripheral eosinophilia, eosinophilic infiltration of the bowel wall to a variable depth and gastrointestinal complaints, the disease responds inconsistently to simple food withdrawal programs. Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to specific food substances have been found in a few patients leading to a postulated pathophysiologic mechanism involving tissue mast cells, release of slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A) and chemotaxis of eosinophils. Oral steroids appear, in uncontrolled trials, to ameliorate the disease.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004804:Eosinophils; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000276:immunology; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000276:immunology; D011379:Prognosis; D013189:SRS-A / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D013189:SRS-A; D007073:Immunoglobulin E