Jejunal obstruction caused by an intramural hematoma secondary to focal
eosinophilic enteritis
- Maria Vergara Ariztia,
- Russell Freeland
Abstract
Focal eosinophilic enteritis in horses is an idiopathic disease that can
cause acute abdominal pain. It is characterized by infiltration of
eosinophils into the equine intestinal tract. Intramural hematoma of the
small intestine is also a poorly understood disease. This case report
describes a surgical colic in a 9-year-old mare that had jejunal
obstruction caused by an intramural hematoma secondary to focal
eosinophilic enteritis. Diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological
results showing eosinophilic infiltration and subserosal granulomas that
contained large numbers of hemosiderin-laden macrophages. Damage to the
mucosal barrier of the intestine may have led to an immunologic reaction
and subsequent eosinophilic enteritis. While the cause of the
eosinophilic enteritis is unknown, our hypothesis in this case was an
underlying hypersensitivity such as food allergy may have played a role
based on literature and histopathological examination.