Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 108, Issue 11 , Pages 834-843, November 2009

Eosinophilic Digestive Diseases: Eosinophilic Esophagitis, Gastroenteritis, and Colitis

  • Allison Shifflet

      Affiliations

    • Division of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
  • ,
  • Faripour Forouhar

      Affiliations

    • Department of Pathology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
  • ,
  • George Y. Wu

      Affiliations

    • Division of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Professor George Y. Wu, Division of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT 06030, USA

Received 28 August 2009; received in revised form 24 September 2009; accepted 2 October 2009.

Article Outline

Eosinophilic digestive diseases (EDD) are relatively rare disorders associated with increased gastrointestinal eosinophilic infiltrates without any underlying primary etiology. The pathophysiology of EDD is unclear, but is suspected to be related to a hypersensitivity reaction given its correlation with other atopic disorders and clinical response to corticosteroid therapy. Given the overall relative increase of various atopic conditions, it is important for clinicians to understand the presentation and diagnosis and treatment options available. We present here a review of EDD, including the proposed pathophysiology, diagnosis and current treatment options for these disorders.

Key Words:  atopy , colitis , eosinophils , esophagitis , gastritis

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PII: S0929-6646(09)60414-9

doi:10.1016/S0929-6646(09)60414-9

Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 108, Issue 11 , Pages 834-843, November 2009