title: Natural history of eosinophilic gastroenteritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) is a rare gastrointestinal disorder; little is known about its natural history. We determined the clinical features and long-term outcomes of patients with EGE.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed files from 43 patients diagnosed with EGE who were followed from January 1988 to April 2009. The diagnosis was made according to standard criteria after other eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders were excluded. We analyzed data on initial clinical presentation and long-term outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EGE was classified as mucosal, subserosal, or muscular in 44%, 39%, and 12% of cases, respectively. Disease location was mostly duodenal (62%), ileal (72%), or colonic (88%); it was less frequently esophageal (30%) or gastric (38%). Blood eosinophilia (numbers >500/mm(3)) was observed in 74% of cases. Spontaneous remission occurred in 40% of patients; the majority of treated patients (74%) received oral corticosteroids, which were effective in most cases. After a median follow-up period of 13 years (0.8-29 years), we identified 3 different courses of disease progression: 18 patients (42%; 9 with subserosal disease) had an initial flare of the disease without relapse, 16 (37%) had multiple flares that were separated by periods of full remission (recurring disease), and 9 (21%) had chronic disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The clinical presentation of EGE is heterogeneous and varies in histologic pattern; about 40% of patients resolve the disease spontaneously, without relapse. Approximately 50% have a more complex disease, which is characterized by unpredictable relapses and a chronic course.
authors.affiliation: Univ Lille Nord de France, F-59000, Lille, France.
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pineton de Chambrun
authors.forename: Florent
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Jean-Yves
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Canva
authors.forename: Samia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Houssin
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Desreumaux
authors.forename: Antoine
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cortot
authors.forename: Jean-Frédéric
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Colombel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004751:Enteritis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents