Eosinophilic gastroenteritis treated with non-enteric-coated budesonide tablets

Abstract

A patient who presented with upper abdominal pain, nausea and ascites together with peripheral eosinophilia is described. Based on a surgical full-thickness biopsy of the antrum, the diagnosis of eosinophilic gastroenteritis was made. Treatment with prednisone resulted in a clinical response, but the prednisone dose could not be lowered below 5 mg. We preferred to treat the patient with corticosteroids with minimal systemic side effects. As there was gastric involvement, we could not give enteric-coated budesonide capsules. Therefore, we treated the patient with budesonide tablets, which were designed originally for use as a clysma but now are given orally. With this treatment regimen, the patient has been in remission for more than 2 years.