AIM:To evaluate the clinic features of eosinophilicgastroenteritis and to examine the diagnosis,treatment,long-term outcome of this disease.METHODS:Charts with a diagnosis of eosinophilicgastroenteritis from 1984 to 2002 at Mackay MemorialHospital were reviewed retrospectively.There were 15patients diagnosed with eosinophilic gastroenteritis.Thediagnosis was established in 13 by histologic evaluation ofendoscopic biopsy or operative specimen and in 2 byradiologic imaging and the presence of eosinophilic ascites.RESULTS:All the patients had gastrointestinal symptomsand 12(80 %)had hypereosinophilia(absolute eosinophilcount 1008 to 31 360/cm~3).The most common symptomswere abdominal pain and diarrhea.Five of the 15 patientshad a history of allergy.Seven patients had involvement ofthe mucosa,2 of muscularis,and 6 of subserosa.One witha history of seafood allergy was successfully treated with anelimination diet.Another patient improved spontaneouslyafter fasted for several days.The remaining 13 patients weretreated with oral prednisolone,10 to 40 mg/day initially,which was then tapered.The symptoms in all the patientssubsided within two weeks.Eleven of the 15 patients werefollowed up for more than 12 months(12 to 104 months,mean 48.7),of whom 5 had relapses after discontinuingsteroids(13 episodes).Two of these patients required long-term maintenance oral prednisolone(5 to 10 mg/day CONCLUSION: Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is a rare condition of unclear etiology characterized by relapses and remissions. Short courses of corticosteroids are the mainstay of treatment, although some patients with relapsing disease require long-term low-dose steroids. AIM: To evaluate the clinic features of eosinophilic gastroenteritis and to examine the diagnosis, treatment, long-term outcome of this disease. METHODS: Charts with a diagnosis of eosinophilic gastroenteritis from 1984 to 2002 at Mackay Memorial Hospital were reviewed retrospectively.There were 15patients diagnosed with eosinophilic gastroenteritis.Thediagnosis was established in 13 by histologic evaluation of endoscopic biopsy or operative specimen and in 2 byradiologic imaging and the presence of eosinophilic ascites .RESULTS: All the patient had gastrointestinal symptomsand 12 (80%) had hypereosinophilia (absolute eosinophilcount 1008 to 31 360 / The most common symptomswere abdominal pain and diarrhea. Five of the 15 patientshad a history of allergy. Seven patients had involvement of the mucosa, 2 of muscularis, and 6 of subserosa. One witha history of seafood allergy was successfully treated with anelimination diet.Another patient improved spontaneouslyafter fasted for several days.The remaini ng 13 patients were treated with oral prednisolone, 10 to 40 mg / day initially, which was then tapered. The symptoms in all the patientssubsided within two weeks. Eleven of the 15 patients werefollowed up for more than 12 months (12 to 104 months, mean 48.7), of whom 5 had relapses after discontinuingsteroids (13 episodes). Two of these patients required long-term maintenance oral prednisolone (5 to 10 mg / day CONCLUSION: Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is a rare condition of unclear etiology characterized by relapses and remissions. Short courses of corticosteroids are the mainstay of treatment, although some patients with relapsing disease require long-term low-dose steroids.