Korean J Gastrointest Endosc.  2009 Dec;39(6):329-337.

Eosinophilic Esophagitis

• Jo YJ

Abstract

Eosinophilic esophagitis, as a new emerging disease during the last decade, is a clinicopathologic disorder of the esophagus, and it is characterized by dense esophageal eosinophilic infiltrations and typical esophageal symptoms. These patients usually present with dysphagia, food impaction or refractory reflux symptoms, and biopsy of the esophagus shows more than 15 eosinophils per high-power field. The typical findings on endoscopy are linear furrows, ringed esophagus, mucosal nodularities, whitish plaques and/or stricture. It is essential to exclude the known causes of tissue eosinophilia such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, eosinophilic gastroenteritis, infections, drug, hypersensitivity, Crohn's disease or malignancy. The majority of these patients have an atopy or allergic disorders, so other causes of eosinphilia should be evaluated. The therapeutic options include acid suppression, steroids, dietary modification, endoscopic dilatation, etc. Eosinophilic esopahgitis has recently been reported in Korea. Future schematic studies about this new disease are needed.

Keyword

Eosinophilic esophagitis; Eosinophilia; Dysphagia; Reflux; Refractory esophagitis

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Constriction, Pathologic
Crohn Disease
Deglutition Disorders
Dilatation
Endoscopy
Enteritis
Eosinophilia
Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Eosinophils
Esophagus
Food Habits
Gastritis
Gastroenteritis
Gastroesophageal Reflux
Humans
Hypersensitivity
Korea
Steroids
Enteritis
Eosinophilia
Gastritis
Steroids