Treatment of a patient with clinical features of both eosinophilic gastroenteritis and polyarteritis nodosa with oral sodium cromoglycate

Abstract

A young patient who suffered from allergic respiratory disease presented with an illness characterized by abdominal pain, diarrhea, and weight loss. Investigations revealed radiological and pathological features consistent with a diagnosis of eosinophilic gastroenteritis. Because of extensive gastric ulceration, treatment with corticosteroids was with-held and in its place oral sodium cromoglycate therapy given. The patient's intestinal symptoms rapidly responded to this treatment and remained controlled for a period of five months. The patient subsequently developed a systemic illness with features of polyarteritis nodosa.