Eosinophilic colitis

Eosinophilic colitis: an infrequent disease with difficult diagnose

Eosinophilic colitis (EC) is a rare entity. It is part of eosinophilic gastroenteritis, a rare inflammatory disorder characterised by eosinophilic infiltration of tissues that can affect any segment of the digestive tract. The diagnosis is established by the presence of an increased eosinophilic infiltrate in the colon wall in symptomatic patients. There is no characteristic clinical picture of EC. It can be associated with abdominal pain, changes in bowel movements, diarrhoea and rectal bleeding. Biopsies are mandatory if EC is suspected and despite visualising a normal mucosa. Although there are no protocol guidelines in this regard, steroid treatment is the first option in controlling the disease. Increasing the knowledge of clinicians and pathologists of this disorder and the recording its real incidence and population impact, could improve the understanding and treatment of the disease.