Abstract
Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EG) is a rare disease of unknown etiology characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the gastrointestinal tract wall with various gastrointestinal manifestations. Several organs in the digestive tract may be involved by EG, but biliary tract involvements are rare. We report here a case of EG with eosinophilic infiltration of the gall bladder. A 57-year-old man was admitted to the hospital complaining of abdominal pain and diarrhea. As ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging showed thickened gall bladder wall and debris in the neck of gall bladder, we performed cholecystectomy, but his symptoms were not improved. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed multiple erosions, redness and edema in the duodenum and stomach. Biopsy specimens from the duodenum and stomach showed infiltration of eosinophils, plasma cells and lymphocytes. Microscopic findings of resected gall bladder showed eosinophilic infiltration into the all layers of gall bladder wall without vasculitis. Based on these findings, EG with eosinophilic infiltration of the gall bladder was diagnosed. Following oral steroid administration, clinical symptoms were immediately improved. One month after the therapy, esophagogastroduodenoscopy did not show any findings of gastritis or duodenitis, and there were no eosinophilic infiltrations in biopsy specimens from duodenum and stomach.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Baig MA, Qadir A, Rasheed J. A review of eosinophilic gastroenteritis. J Natl Med Assoc. 2006;98:1616–9.
Schoonbroodt D, Horsmans Y, Laka A, Geubel AP, Hoang P. Eosinophilic gastroenteritis presenting with colitis and cholangitis. Dig Dis Sci. 1995;40:308–14.
Jimenez-Saenz M, Villar-Rodriguez JL, Torres Y, Carmona I, Salas-Herrero E, Gonzalez-Vilches J et al. Biliary tract disease: a rare manifestation of eosinophilic gastroenteritis. Dig Dis Sci. 2003;48:624–7.
Hirashima Y, Kitajima K, Sugi S, Kagawa K, Murakami K, Fujioka T et al. Eosinophilic gastroenteritis in the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine in a patient with a choking feeling in the esophagus (in Japanese with English abstract). Nippon Shokakibyo Gakkai Zasshi (Jpn J Gastroenterol). 2007;104:660–5.
Talley NJ, Shorter RG, Phillips SF, Zinsmeister AR. Eosinophilic gastroenteritis: a clinicopathological study of patients with disease of the mucosa, muscle layer, and subserosal tissues. Gut. 1990;31:54–8.
Reid AJ, Harrison BD, Watts RA, Watkin SW, McCann BG, Scott DG. Churg-Strauss syndrome in a district hospital. Q J Med. 1998;91:219–29.
Fauci AS, Harley JB, Roberts WC, Ferrans VJ, Gralnick HR, Bjornson BH. NIH conference. The idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome. Clinical, pathophysiologic, and therapeutic considerations. Ann Intern Med. 1982;97:78–92.
Fox H, Path MRC, Mainwaring AR. Eosinophilic infiltration of the gall bladder. Gastroenterology. 1972;63:1049–52.
Kaji K, Yoshiji H, Yoshikawa M, Yamazaki M, Ikenaka Y, Noguchi R et al Eosinophilic cholecystitis along with pericarditis caused by Ascaris lumbricoides: a case report. World J Gastroenterol. 2007;13:3760–2.
Kerstein MD, Sheahan DG, Gudjonsson B, Lewis J. Eosinophilic cholecystitis. Am J Gastroenterol. 1976;66:349–52.
Steffen RM, Wyllie R, Petras RE, Caulfield ME, Michener WM, Firor HV, et al. The spectrum of eosinophilic gastroenteritis. Report of six pediatric cases and review of the literature. Clin Pediatr. 1991;30:404–11.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Adachi, W., Kishimoto, K., Shiozawa, H. et al. Eosinophilic gastroenteritis with eosinophilic infiltration of the gall bladder. Clin J Gastroenterol 1, 23–27 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12328-008-0004-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12328-008-0004-5