Immunohistochemical study of intestinal eosinophils in inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Eosinophil accumulation and activation are characteristic features of inflammation in allergic diseases and in host defense against parasites.

Goals: To investigate the involvement of eosinophils in inflamed and noninflamed mucosa of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Study: Specimens of inflamed colonic mucosa from 15 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and inflamed and noninflamed colonic mucosa from 15 patients with Crohn's disease (CD) were submitted to histologic and immunohistochemical studies.