Allergic eosinophilic gastroenteritis in a child with Crohn's disease.

A case of a child with Crohn's disease who developed an eosinophilic gastroenteritis is reported. Although symptoms of eosinophilic gastroenteritis at age 8 could mimic those of Crohn's disease, laboratory, radiographic and histologically studies are clearly different. Peripheral blood eosinophilia (7,476 cells per mm3), high serum IgE level (1,050 kU/l) and normal C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate are common in eosinophilic gastroenteritis and uncommon in Crohn's disease. Eosinophilic gastroenteritis was due to bovine serum albumin (BSA) hypersensitivity, confirmed with skin tests, serum levels to specific IgE and a SDS-PAGE IgE-immunoblotting. A strict meat-free diet was started, with progressive relief of symptoms and decrease of eosinophil count twelve months later; the patient became fully symptom-free and eosinophil count was normal.