title: Perforation of the small intestine due to eosinophilic gastroenteritis.
abstract: A 74-year-old woman with longstanding diarrhea and clinical symptoms of malabsorption and a raised peripheral eosinophilic count underwent an explorative laparotomy for small intestinal perforation. The resected specimen was consistent with the diagnosis of eosinophilic gastroenteritis. Despite corticosteroids, a second acute abdominal crisis occurred and the patient died. Small intestinal perforation due to transmural bowel wall involvement in eosinophilic gastroenteritis has to our knowledge not been described previously.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007416:Intestinal Perforation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D007579:Jejunal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D007583:Jejunum / Q000473:pathology