EOSINOPHILIC PERITONITIS

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Abstract
Four cases are reported with pathological examination of tissue showing a more or less diffuse infiltration of the serosa with eosinophils, with the most marked involvement being of the walls of the arterioles and capillaries. One previous case had been described in the literature with pathological confirmation of this disease entity. Three of these present cases showed a peripheral eosinophilia. They all were associated with episodic gastro-intestinal symptoms, principally abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. Steroid therapy and surgical intervention proved to be of no permanent benefit to the patients. Symptomatic and supportive therapy appeared to be of most value in the management of these patients. The presence of necrotizing angiitis of the hypersensitivity type involving the serosal vessels suggests that eosinophilic peritonitis may be allergic in nature. The clinical features of 3 of these cases also suggests allergic phenomena as being a factor in the etiology.
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