title: Eosinophilic gastroenteritis presenting as ascites and splenomegaly.
abstract: A 25-year-old man with a 1 year history of episodic abdominal pain presented with splenomegaly, eosinophilic ascites and peripheral eosinophilia. Full-thickness biopsies from his gastrointestinal tract revealed intense eosinophilic infiltration involving both muscular and serosal layers and extending from his stomach to his ileum. When given oral steroids, the patient's condition improved and he was discharged without symptoms. Eighteen months later, he remains asymptomatic and without recurrence of ascites or splenomegaly. This report adds to the scarce data on extraintestinal involvement in eosinophilic gastroenteritis. Special attention is drawn to the differential diagnosis of eosinophilic ascites and to the optimal approach to its management.
authors.affiliation: Digestive System Research Unit, Hospital General Vall d'Hebron, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Junquera
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: de Torres
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Molero
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vilaseca
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Malagelada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001201:Ascites / Q000209:etiology*; D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004064:Digestive System / Q000473:pathology; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D011241:Prednisone