Intestinal obstruction by eosinophilic jejunitis

Abstract

Eosinophilic enteritis is an uncommon disease that rarely develops as a surgical emergency. Although it may be associated with infestation by Ancylostoma caninum, its etiology is unknown and often related to a personal or family history of atopy. A transmural involvement may cause intestinal obstruction -more frequently in the jejunum- or even acute abdomen, which may or may not be accompanied by intestinal perforation. The latter two conditions tend to be more commonly associated with ileum disease, causing pain in the lower right quadrant of the abdomen. Patient history, eosinophil count -which may be paradoxically reduced when the disease appears in this way-, ultrasonography, and/or CT lead to the suspicion of this condition before a surgical procedure is considered. A definitive diagnosis, however, must be reached by means of an anatomopathological study. Macroscopically, intestinal loops exhibit a thickened appearance with an elastic consistency. Laparoscopic intestinal biopsy may play a major role in the diagnosis of disease. Copyright © 2004 Arán Ediciones, S. L.