%0 Journal Article
%T Severe Eosinophilic Syndrome: Highly Unlikely Associated with the Use of Probiotic Supplements!
%A Arthur C. Ouwehand
%A Ger T. Rijkers
%J Case Reports in Rheumatology
%D 2013
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2013/769127
%X A recent report in this journal suggested a causal relation between probiotic consumption and eosinophilia. In our opinion, the data presented does not suggest such a relationship. The two described eosinophilia cases have not been shown to be caused by infection and certainly not by probiotic infection. The consumed probiotics could not be retrieved in shops, so their identity remains unknown. Furthermore, the alleged consumption took place 2¨C4 weeks prior to the onset of the symptoms; during such time period, probiotics tend to have disappeared from the intestine. Because most probiotic health benefits are strain specific, also potential risks are strain specific. Thus, generalizing a risk to probiotics as a class is incorrect. We do, however, agree with the authors of the case report that quality control of probiotics should be rigorous. We also do not dispute that there may be certain risk groups (e.g. severely immune-compromised patients), where probiotic use should be carefully monitored. In conclusion, the data presented in the case report do not indicate that specific probiotics strains might cause eosinophilia. 1. Case With interest and concern did we read the work of Mendoza and coworkers [1] describing two cases of severe eosinophilic syndrome temporally associated with the use of a nonspecified brand of probiotics. The authors conclude that the eosinophilic syndrome is likely to be associated with the consumption of probiotics. We would like to raise serious concerns with this line of reasoning and the suggestions made in the paper. Peripheral eosinophilia can have various causes, among others bacterial infection. The authors do, however, not report on observing any infection. This is very unfortunate as the characterisation of an infectious agent would have allowed for the unequivocal identification of the cause of the observed eosinophilia. In its absence, other aetiologies cannot be ruled out. The suggestion that the reported cases of eosinophilia were caused by probiotics is based on the recollection of the subjects that they consumed such products two to four weeks prior to onset of the symptoms. Obviously, this is a very weak basis to say the least; the patients will also recall other things they did or did not do few weeks before their disease. In the absence of any physical proof of the products consumed, not even a formal demonstration that both had used the same product, it is not certain that the patients actually did so. It is therefore well possible that any other food or drink they consumed may have been the cause. Even if they
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/crirh/2013/769127/