A case of gastroesophageal reflux disease with marked eosinophilia

Abstract

A 73-year-old woman without a history of allergic diseases visited our hospital complaining of sore throat and nocturnal cough. Blood tests showed marked eosinophilia (18000/mm³;WBC 21900/mm³, Eos 82.0%) with normal serum levels of C-reactive protein, non-specific and various allergen-specific IgE. Stool tests for protozoa or helminthic ova were negative. Chest X-ray films showed no pulmonary abnormalities. Endoscopic and histological examinations revealed reflux esophagitis (grade C according to the Los Angeles Classification System) with hiatal hernia with inflammatory infiltrates including eosinophils within the esophageal mucosa. A computed tomography showed the thickening of the esophageal wall. An administration of lansoprazole improved reflux esophagitis and also eosinophilia, and an alteration to famotidine caused heartburn with an increase in eosinophils. A re-alteration to omeprazole relieved the symptom and decreased eosinophils. It was shown that gastroesophageal reflux disease was one of the possible causes of eosinophilia.