Prevalence of esophageal eosinophilia and eosinophilic esophagitis

A study in the latest issue of the Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics reviews the prevalence of esophageal eosinophilia and eosinophilic esophagitis.

Esophageal eosinophilia is encountered in clinical practice as esophageal biopsies are being obtained in patients with GI symptoms other than classical symptoms of eosinophilic esophagitis.

The prevalence, determinants and clinical relevance of esophageal eosinophilia identified irrespective of symptoms are unclear.

Dr Sealock and colleagues determined the prevalence and risk factors of esophageal eosinophilia with or without eosinophilic esophagitis in a nonselected group of patients undergoing endoscopy and in primary care patients.

A cross-sectional study in a single VA centre in which we obtained at least one esophageal biopsy from patients presenting to elective endoscopy, as well as a sample of patients eligible for screening colonoscopy recruited from primary care clinics.

The doctors defined esophageal eosinophilia by 15 eosinophils in a single HPF.

The prevalence of esophageal eosinophilia was 2% in patients undergoing elective endoscopy

Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics

Eosinophilic esophagitis was defined as definite, probable or none depending on the presence of esophageal eosinophilia, acid-suppressive therapy and esophageal symptoms.

The research team identified esophageal eosinophilia in 33 of 1357 patients, of whom 9 had definite eosinophilic esophagitis, 17 had probable eosinophilic esophagitis.

The team observed that only 7 patients had esophageal eosinophilia without eosinophilic esophagitis .

The research team found that the prevalence of esophageal eosinophilia was 2% among patients undergoing elective endoscopy, and less than 1% among patients eligible for screening colonoscopy.

Seasonal allergies and esophageal strictures were associated with esophageal eosinophilia.

Dr Sealock's team commented, "The prevalence of esophageal eosinophilia was 2% among unselected patients presenting to endoscopy, most of whom have eosinophilic esophagitis."

"Eesophageal eosinophilia was present in less than1% in primary care patients none of whom had eosinophilic esophagitis."