Introduction:
Localized vasculitis of the gastrointestinal tract is an uncommon disease that mainly presents as polyarteritis nodosa and is mainly located on small bowel and gall bladder. Localized eosinophilic vasculitis of the colon, which needs surgical intervention, has never been reported before.
Case presentation:
A 40-year-old man was diagnosed with localized eosinophilic vasculitis of the colon with an initial presentation of necrotizing colitis of ascending colon. After right hemicolectomy, extensive thrombosis of the liver and spleen occurred with the presentation of abdominal pain. The histopathological analysis revealed ischemic colitis with eosinophilic vasculitis in medium-sized vessels throughout the colon. The thrombosis was improved after prednisolone and azathioprine were given. The results of all autoimmune tests, including those for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, were all negative except the elevation of serum immunoglobulin E (680 kU/L [normal, <25 kU/L]).
Conclusion:
Although the patient failed to meet the criteria of the Churg-Strauss syndrome, this case may represent an atypical localized variant of eosinophilic vasculitis of the gastrointestinal tract. Immunosuppressant therapy should be considered after surgery.