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Eosinophilic disorders of the gastrointestinal tract are a heterogeneous group of rare and therefore rarely diagnosed chronic diseases occurring in both pediatric and adults. They represent a diverse clinical presentation, but their common feature is the presence of inflammatory infiltration of the intestinal wall with increased number of eosinophils. The study was a retrospective data analysis of patients hospitalized in the Department of Pediatrics, Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Jagiellonian University Medical College in Krakow, in the last 34 months. Among 11191 hospitalized children with symptoms suggesting gastrointestinal tract disorders, 1918 patients underwent endoscopic examination in which only 23 patients had significantly higher number of eosinophils in biopsies. Two of the four patients with eosinophilia in esophageal biopsy were diagnosed retrospectively as eosinophilic esophagitis. In the remaining 21 patients eosinophilia was secondary to other diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Based on the medical documentation we performed thorough characterization study population in terms of history, physical examination and carried out laboratory tests. The results were referred to the current review of the literature.

Eosinophilic fasciitis characterized by symmetrical limbs' edema, myalgia, erythema, and progressive cutaneous and subcutaneous induration. Peripheral eosinophilia and hypergammaglobulinaemia are the most characteristic features of the disease. Histopathological examination shows fibrosis of fascia and deep layers of subcutaneous tissue with inflammatory infiltrates of eosinophiles, lymphocytes, histiocytes, and plasmocytes. The involvement of the organs occurs rarely in the course of the disease. The clinical case of eosinophilic fasciitis in a 78-year-old female patient was described.

Effector cells such as eosinophils and mononuclear cells play crucial role in the mechanism of injury during acute renal allograft rejection (ARAR). The aim of the study was to evaluate an influence of tissue eosinophilia observed in the renal allograft biopsy (RAB) during ARAR on rejection severity (reversibility) as well as long-term graft function. The histopathological examination and the quantitative assessment was performed in 165 RAB with symptoms of ARAR. The numbers of eosinophils were counted at high power (40xobj), over the entire renal cortex, minimum 10 high power fields(hpf). Results. Significant tissue eosinophilia was found in 49 RAB (29%). In the Eosinophilic Group (EG) we observed: more frequent biopsy-confirmed ARAR episodes (1.79 vs. 1.33/pts; p=0.03), higher grade of acute rejection according to the Banff classification (p=0.007), more severe clinical course of rejection expressed as worse graft function at 6 month after treatment (serum creatinine 2.2 vs. 1.5 mg/dl). Chronic rejection was seen in 25% pts of EG and in 11% pts of Control Group (CG) in the first year after Tx. Graft survival at 6 month in the EG was shorter then in the CG (91% vs 96.3%). Conclusions. Eosinophilic infiltration of RAB is a negative predictor, which can indicate more severe course of ARAR and increased resistance to an anti-rejection therapy. It can determine an appearance of chronic allograft dysfunction hazard.

We presented two cases with symptoms of diffuse swelling of subcutaneous tissue, stiffness and tenderness of involved areas, fever, eosinophilia and hypergammaglobulinemia. The inflammatory infiltrates consisting of lymphocytes, plasma cells and eosinophils were yielded in fascia. The difficulties in differentition of the symptoms between eosinophilic fasciitis and "eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome" are discussed.

Diagnostic utility of eosinophilic pleural effusion (EPE) is still the matter of controversy. Some earlier studies have showed that pleural fluid eosinophilia considerably reduces the probability of malignancy, while some later analyses were not able to confirm such an observation. To evaluate the diagnostic significance of EPE the retrospective study of all patients with pleural effusion (PE) managed in our hospital between 1995 and 2001 has been undertaken. We analyzed 915 patients with PE and 1086 pleural effusions subjected to a biochemical, cytological and bacteriological examinations. We identified 72 (7,9%) patients with EPE and 82 EPEs liquid (7,5%) among them. The group of patients with EPE consisted of 41 (57%) males and 31 (43%) females; average age 62.2 year (range 21.0-94.0). Etiologic distribution showed the largest subgroup were patients with malignant EPE (n=28, 38.9%) followed by idiopathic EPE (n=12, 16.7%) and parapneumonic EPE (n=11, 15.3%). Looking for predictors of malignancy in EPE we found some differences between malignant and nonmalignant EPE: patients with malignant EPE were older (67.9+/-13.6) then patients with nonmalignant EPE (58.7+/-15.6; p<0.015), and have higher percentage of lymphocytes in PE (47.9+/-16.9 vs. 37.9+/-18.9; p<0.03). Similarly we noticed some differences between two largest groups (malignant and idiopathic PE). Patients with malignant PE were older (67.9+/-13.6 vs. 53.9+/-13.6 yrs; p=0.005), had lower pleural fluid eosinophilia (25.2+/-15.3% vs. 41.4+/-21.0%; p=0.01) and higher percentage of lymphocyte in PE (47.9+/-16.9 vs. 29.6+/-19.1%; p=0.004). We conclude that pleural fluid eosinophilia cannot be considered as predictor of nonmalignant etiology. The older age and the higher number of lymphocytes in EPE might suggest malignant etiology of pleural effusion.

Allergic angiitis and granulomatosis (Churg-Strauss syndrome) is one of the rare form of idiopathic (primary) vasculitis. It is characterized by asthma, blood hypereosinophilia and typical microscopic features: nectrotizing vasculitis, tissue infiltration by eosinophils and extravasal granulomas. We present an autopsy case of 55-years old man with Churg-Strauss syndrome complicated by eosinophilic myocarditis.

Research done in respect to tonsils on people dealing at the same time with allergy, is seldom the subject of dissertation in polish as well as world wide medical literature. In the enclosed dissertation, writers present the results of histopathological of hyperplastic tonsils, taken from children with coexisting atopy. It is worthwhile to remark, that many of these cases, the presence of eosinophilia and subepithelial oedema was observed. The tonsillar corpuscle have been also described as ingredients in some of the talked about medical samples.

First time eosinophilic fasciitis (EF) was described by Shulman. It occurrences predominantly in young men, rarely older women, sporadic in children. The illness was characterised by swelling of the extremities, skin changes, myalgia, and elevation of the peripheral blood eosinophil count and hypergammaglobulinemia. It is followed by rapidly progressive cutaneous and subcutaneous induration. The histopathologic examination in the region of affected skin shows thickening of the fascia, deep dermal fibrosis and infiltration mainly consists of lymphocytes, plasmocytes, eosinphils. It is suggested that the cells from infiltration induce fibrosis. The tryptophan disturbance has significant influence on development of EF in predisposed persons. Eosinophilic fasciitis is classified to wide spectrum of scleroderma disorders by many authors. The authors tried to show differences between EF, morphea and systemic scleroderma.

In 29 patients with nasal obstruction, sneezing and water-like nasal discharge the allergic tests were negative. However, the cytologic examinations of their nasal discharge founded 20% of eosinophil The IgE serum level was normal in 21 patients and in 8 was distinctly elevated. In 21 patients the non-allergic rhinitis was diagnosed and in remaining 8 the suspicion of allergy without proved agent.

A case of eosinophilic pustular folliculitis is described. The patient was a man aged 28 years with typical clinical and histological findings. The disease developed after an insect sting. Evident improvement was obtained after administration of sulphones with corticosteroids.