Eosinophilic Colitis Associated with Emtricitabine/Tenofovir

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) is a rare disease occurring commonly in patients with a history of allergies, asthma, food sensitivities, or parasite exposure. The condition has been postulated to occur when eosinophils accumulate at the intestinal epithelium resulting in inflammation, recruitment and degranulation of mast cells, and further propagation of eosinophil activation. While laboratory and microbiological data may point to the diagnosis, the condition is only confirmed via biopsy demonstrating the eosinophilic infiltration of the intestinal epithelium. Multiple medications have previously been implicated in causing EGE; however, this is the first documented case associated with emtricitabine/tenofovir.