1/76. Markedly high eosinophilia and an elevated serum IL-5 level in an infant with cow milk allergy.BACKGROUND: interleukin-5 (IL-5) promotes the production and function of eosinophils, and an increase in the serum soluble CD23 (sCD23) level is suggestive of enhanced type-2 helper T-cell activity. The secretion of a large amount of the proinflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a), has been reported to alter the intestinal barrier capacity. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether or not distinct profiles of cytokine production were involved in the marked peripheral eosinophilia of as high as 20,000/mm3 and the gastrointestinal symptoms seen in an infant with cow milk allergy. methods: The levels of IL-5, sCD23, and TNF-alpha in serum and the culture supernatants of mononuclear cells were compared with those in infants with anaphylaxis to cow milk and nonallergic infants. RESULTS: interleukin-5 was detected in the serum (19 pg/mL) but became undetectable after 2 weeks on a milk-free diet together with clinical remission. A kinetic decrease in the serum sCD23 level was also observed during the administration of a milk-free diet with improvement of the eosinophilia in 2 months. The TNF-alpha produced in vitro after stimulation with cow milk protein was not different from in controls. CONCLUSION: It seems likely that the allergic inflammation due to cow milk can induce marked eosinophilia with an associated increase in IL-5 production.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = inflammation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/76. Development of irreversible airflow obstruction in a patient with eosinophilic bronchitis without asthma.Eosinophilic bronchitis is a recently described condition presenting with chronic cough and sputum eosinophilia without the abnormalities of airway function seen in asthma. The patient, a 48-yr-old male who had never smoked, presented with an isolated chronic cough. He had normal spirometric values, peak flow variability and airway responsiveness, but an induced sputum eosinophil count of 33% (normal <1%). Although his cough improved with inhaled corticosteroids the sputum eosinophilia persisted. Over 2 yrs he developed airflow obstruction, which did not improve following nebulized bronchodilators and a 2-week course of prednisolone 30 mg once daily sufficient to return the sputum eosinophilia to normal (0.5%). It is suggested that the progressive irreversible airflow obstruction was due to persistent structural change to the airway secondary to eosinophilic airway inflammation, and it is further speculated that eosinophilic bronchitis may be a prelude to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in some patients.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = inflammation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/76. The spectrum of pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis beyond infancy: a clinical series of 30 children.OBJECTIVES: eosinophilic esophagitis, previously confused with esophageal inflammation due to gastroesophageal reflux, has recently begun to be distinguished from it. We undertook this analysis of our large series of children with the condition to clarify its spectrum: its presenting symptoms; its relation to allergy, respiratory disease, and reflux; its endoscopic and histological findings; and its diagnosis and therapy. methods: We analyzed the details of our clinical series of 30 children with eosinophilic esophagitis, defining it as > or =5 eosinophils per high power field in the distal esophageal epithelium. Retrospective chart review was supplemented by prospective, blinded, duplicate quantitative evaluation of histology specimens, and by telephone contact with some families to clarify subsequent course. Presentation and analysis of the series as a whole is preceded by a case illustrating a typical presentation with dysphagia and recurrent esophageal food impactions. RESULTS: Presenting symptoms encompass vomiting, pain, and dysphagia (some with impactions or strictures). Allergy, particularly food allergy, is an associated finding in most patients, and many have concomitant asthma or other chronic respiratory disease. A subtle granularity with furrows or rings is newly identified as the endoscopic herald of histological eosinophilic esophagitis. Histological characteristics include peripapillary or juxtaluminal eosinophil clustering in certain cases. association with eosinophilic gastroenteritis occurs, but is not common. Differentiation from gastroesophageal reflux disease is approached by analyzing eosinophil density and response to therapeutic trials. Therapy encompasses dietary elimination and anti-inflammatory pharmacotherapy. CONCLUSION: awareness of the spectrum of eosinophilic esophagitis should promote optimal diagnosis and treatment of this elusive entity, both in children and in adults.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = inflammation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/76. The cytokine profile in a transient variant of angioedema with eosinophilia.Episodic angioedema with eosinophilia is characterized by recurrent angioedema, fever and weight gain with a remarkable eosinophilia. A transient type, predominantly reported in japan, in which the disease is limited to a single attack, is usually less severe than the episodic type described in the U.S.A. and europe, and provides an ideal disease model in which to study the mechanisms for resolution of eosinophilic inflammation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between cytokine responses and clinical course in three patients with the transient type. serum levels of interleukin (IL) -5 were only marginally elevated even during an attack, unlike those in reported cases of the episodic type. Significant elevations in granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor levels were also noted during an attack in two cases in which it was measured. A dramatic increase in tumor necrosis factor (TNF) -alpha levels was subsequently observed in relation to resolution of clinical symptoms. No major changes in the serum levels of soluble Fas and soluble Fas ligand were found throughout the course. These results suggest that relatively lower levels of IL-5 and a subsequent increase in TNF-alpha levels are characteristic features of the transient type. The differences in clinical symptoms and course observed between the two types may be partly explained by the differences in the cytokine profiles.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = inflammation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/76. Synchronous first manifestation of an idiopathic eosinophilic gastroenteritis and bronchial asthma.Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is a rare disease of the gastrointestinal tract in which the eosinophils seem to play an important role in the inflammation of the gut wall. We report on a case with a synchronous first manifestation of eosinophilic gastroenteritis and bronchial asthma, which also occurred synchronously in all further episodes. The diagnosis was first made at the end of the second episode during which the patient lost more than 13 kg in weight. Under steroid therapy, symptoms of both diseases disappeared quickly in the third episode. We assume that participation of the gastrointestinal tract in patients with bronchial asthma occurs more frequently than expected. In asthma patients with abdominal symptomatology, eosinophilic gastroenteritis should also be considered.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = inflammation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/76. Eosinophil-associated inflammation and elaboration of eosinophil-derived proteins in 2 children with raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) encephalitis.OBJECTIVE: Eosinophil-associated proteins, especially eosinophil-derived neurotoxin, may be important contributors to the neurologic pathology and symptoms caused by Baylisascaris procyonis infection. methods: Two cases of severe B procyonis encephalitis with evidence of marked eosinophil degranulation in the central nervous system are presented. Serial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens were collected from each patient during the course of their illness. antibodies against B procyonis were measured in the patients' serum and CSF. Levels of the eosinophilopoietin interleukin-5 (IL-5) and 2 important eosinophil proteins, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin and major basic protein, were assayed in the CSF. RESULTS: Both patients had rapidly progressive central nervous system disease with evidence of eosinophilic meningoencephalitis. Both tested positive for antibodies to B procyonis in serum and CSF and had progressively worsening deep white matter changes on magnetic resonance images of the brain. CSF levels of IL-5, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin, and major basic protein were markedly elevated over controls. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first report of the measurement of IL-5, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin, and major basic protein in human CSF. In addition to traumatic damage and necrosis caused by migrating larvae, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin from associated eosinophilic inflammation may be an important contributory factor in the pathogenesis of B procyonis encephalitis. parasite, eosinophil-derived-neurotoxin, major basic protein, eosinophilia, hypereosinophilia, interleukin-5, encephalitis, child.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = inflammation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/76. Clinical characteristics of so called eosinophilic otitis media.OBJECTIVE: Although "eosinophilic otitis media" is not as uncommon a condition as was previously believed, its cause and pathogenesis are not yet fully understood. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics in patients with "eosinophilic otitis media" to clarify its pathogenesis. methods: Seven adult patients with persistent and intractable otitis media with viscous middle ear effusion containing many eosinophils, who were also under treatment for bronchial asthma, were studied. The following examinations were conducted: nasopharyngeal endoscopy, pure-tone audiometry, eustachian tube function test, temporal bone CT scan, blood analysis, bacterial and fungal culture of middle ear effusion, histological study of the middle ear and nasal specimens, and measurement of eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) in middle ear effusion. RESULTS: Some patients had persistent perforation with papillomatous granulation tissue arising from the mesotympanic mucosa, and all the patients had nasal polyposis. The pure-tone audiometry showed the mixed-type of hearing loss in all the patients, and the hearing level deteriorated progressively during the course in some patients. The eustachian tube function was not always poor but was patulous in some cases. The most severely diseased areas were in the eustachian tube and mesotympanum by temporal bone CT images. All the seven patients had the high levels of total serum IgE, but the RAST scores were negative in three patients and low grade in three patients. The accumulation of eosinophils was observed in middle ear effusion, middle ear mucosa and nasal polyps, and the eosinophils were highly activated with degranulation. High level of ECP was also recovered from middle ear effusion. CONCLUSIONS: Active eosinophilic inflammation occurs in the entire respiratory tract, including the middle ear in these patients. From our present investigation, we propose the criteria and clinical characteristics of "eosinophilic otitis media".- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = inflammation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/76. Eosinophilic fasciitis associated with simple traumatism.Eosinophilic fasciiitis is an idiopathic and uncommon condition, a scleroderma-like disorder that predominantly affects the extremities and is characterized by marked thickening and inflammation of the fascia, associated with with peripheral blood eosinophilia, hypergammaglobulinemia, and characteristic histologic findings. A case is presented of a 75-year-old female patient who sought medical assistance for sudden occurrence of induration and erythema of both lower extremities one week after she had fallen from a one-meter height, with generalization of the signs. The diagnosis of eosinophilic fasciitis was made on the basis of histopathologic findings, and treatment with glucocorticoids, non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs and antihistaminics was prescribed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = inflammation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
9/76. CT findings in eosinophilic enterocolitis with predominantly serosal and muscular bowel wall infiltration.A 44-year-old female presented with tenderness of her abdomen, vomiting, intestinal obstruction, hypoalbuminemia and blood eosinophilia. gastroscopy was normal and colonoscopic biopsies showed only non-specific inflammation of the colonic mucosa and submucosa. CT revealed large amounts of ascites and bilateral pleural effusions but eosinophil counts in the ascites were normal. At CT the jejunum was dilated and showed marked prominence of the valvulae whereas the ileum and the colon presented with a diffuse and hypoattenuating bowel wall thickening. The bowel wall thickening was most pronounced in the colon which especially showed also an impressive thickening and hyperenhancement mainly of its outer bowel wall layers. Parasitic infection could be excluded as well as a specific allergic response. In context with the known blood eosinophilia the diagnosis of an eosinophilic enterocolitis was suspected already by CT but finally only surgical full thickness biopsies could confirm the rare diagnosis of an eosinophilic enterocolitis with predominantly serosal and muscular bowel wall infiltration.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = inflammation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
10/76. Atypical presentation of churg-strauss syndrome: another "forme fruste" of the disease?vasculitis is a clinicopathologic process characterized by inflammation and damage to blood vessels. A broad and heterogenous group of syndromes may result from this process, because any type, size, and location of blood vessel may be involved. The cause of these conditions remains unclear, but an autoimmune inflammatory process, characterized by involvement of both neutrophils and endothelial cells, seems to play an important role. In 1951, Churg and Strauss described a clinical syndrome of severe asthma, hypereosinophilia with eosinophilic infiltrates, eosinophilic vasculitis, and granulomata in various organs. asthma may precede this vasculitis by many years. We report a case of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-positive, pauci-immune, crescentic, necrotizing glomerulonephritis with peripheral and interstitial eosinophilia but without asthma. This is very unusual in churg-strauss syndrome.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = inflammation (Clic here for more details about this article) |
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