An Uncommon Cause of a Refractory Gastric Ulcer

Keywords

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis, Abdominal pain, Gastric ulcer, Helicobacter pylori

Case Discussion

A 29-year-old female with a history of bipolar disorder presented to the emergency department (ED) with worsening epigastric pain. Two years ago, esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) showed a 1.5-cm benign-appearing superficial ulcer in the pylorus. She was presumed to have an NSAID-induced peptic ulcer and was treated with proton pump inhibitor therapy. She had multiple hospitalizations for abdominal pain and several subsequent EGDs showing refractory gastric ulcer. During each EGD, the ulcer appeared deepen. Stool antigen and antral biopsy for H. pylori test (histology and rapid urease test) were repeatedly negative with normal gastrin level. Her physical examination was unremarkable. Complete blood count showed a hemoglobin of 11.4 g/dl (11.5-15.5) and white blood cell of 11.5 K/cm² (4-12) with 5% eosinophils. The patient underwent repeat EGD that showed deeper ulcer (Figure 1). Targeted biopsies from the margin of the ulcer and esophagus showed significant eosinophilic infiltration consistent with primary eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) (Figure 2 and Figure 3). She was started on prednisone 20 mg daily. Follow-up EGD after six weeks of prednisone showed completely healed ulcer and gastric biopsy showed improved eosinophil infiltration of 10 cells/HPF. The patient was seen follow up three and six months later showed complete resolution of symptoms with improvement in the quality of life.

Refractory gastric ulcer typically generates a broad list of differential diagnoses. Poor compliance with proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), perpetual use of NSAIDs and H. Pylori should be considered as an initial differential diagnosis [1]. Other diagnostic possibilities including sarcoidosis, EGE, infection, and cancer should be investigated by performing biopsy from four quadrants of the ulcer. Peripheral eosinophilia and elevated serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) are common but not universal [2]. The pathogenic mechanism of EGE is not well recognized. Cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-3, IL-5 and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GMCSF) causing the recruitment and activation of eosinophils [2,3]. Also, eotaxin has been shown to recruiting eosinophils into the lamina propria of the stomach and leading to inflammation and damage [2,4].

Klein classified EGE into three types depending on the layer in which inflammation takes place: Mucosal, muscular, and serosal type [4]. EGE usually present with nonspecific GI symptoms; the refractory gastric ulcer is a rare presentation of EGE [5]. Even though atopic disease and eosinophilia are clues to the diagnosis, the biopsy is crucial. The systemic steroid is very effective and results in complete resolution of symptoms; however, the patients who relapse after discontinuation of steroid may require long-term, maintenance therapy with a low-dose steroid.

Authors' Disclosures of Potential Conflicts of Interest

The author(s) indicated no potential conflicts of interest.

Financial Disclosure

None to report.

Authors' Contribution

All authors contributed equally to this manuscript.

References

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5. Kristopaitis T, Neghme C, Yong SL, et al. (1997) Giant antral ulcer: A rare presentation of eosinophilic gastroenteritis--case report and review of the literature. Am J Gastroenterol 92: 1205-1208.