title: Evaluation of the patient with suspected eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease.
abstract: This article focuses on the evaluation and management of eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases other than eosinophilic esophagitis. Those diseases include eosinophilic gastritis, gastroenteritis, enteritis, and colitis. The diagnosis of eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease is primarily dependent on the clinical history and histopathology of multiple biopsy specimens after ruling out other causes of intestinal eosinophilia. The diagnosis of eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases other than eosinophilic esophagitis is complicated by the lack of uniformly accepted diagnostic criteria. Treatment involves evaluation for food sensitivity, elimination diets, and the use of anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory medications with varying degrees of success. Little is known about the natural history of eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases, underscoring the need for long-term follow-up studies of patients with these disorders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, National Jewish Health, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 1400 Jackson Street, J321, Denver, CO 80206, USA.
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Fleischer
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Atkins
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004724:Endoscopy; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D005526:Food, Formulated; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D010808:Physical Examination
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents