[Infection with Gnathostoma spinigerum as a cause of eosinophilic oesophagitis].

HISTORY AND ADMISSION FINDINGS: A 63-year-old man, who had travelled extensively in Asia and had lived in South Africa, presented with increasing dysphagia. Physical examination showed no abnormalities.

EXAMINATIONS: Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy showed a concentric oesophageal stenosis, 5 cm long, consisting of thickening of the wall without any sign of malignancy or mucocutaneous lesions. The histological examination of this lesion demonstrated infiltrations of eosinophilic cells. Serology was positive for Gnathostoma spinigerum.

TREATMENT AND CLINICAL COURSE: After treatment with albendazole 400 mg per day for 3 weeks the clinical, histological and serological symptoms resolved completely.

CONCLUSION

In case of any eosinophilia or local infiltrations of eosinophilic cells, parasitic disease have to be considered.