Trend, clinical presentations and diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis in Saudi children (original) (raw)

Eosinophilic esophagitis in pediatric age, state of the art and review of the literature

2018

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic immune-mediated relapsing disease caused by eosinophilic infiltration of the esophageal mucosa which is normally lacking these cells. EoE belongs to the group of the so called Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disorders (EGIDs). From a rare and unusual disease, EoE has become an emerging entity and in recent years its incidence and prevalence have increased all over the world, also in children. The pathogenesis is very complex and still not completely clear. Esophageal disfunction symptoms (e.g. dysphagia and food impaction) represent the typical manifestation of EoE and this condition could be difficult to recognize, more in pediatric age than in adults. Moreover, symptoms can often overlap with those of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), leading to a delayed diagnosis. EoE is often related to atopy and an allergological evaluation is recommended. Untreated EoE could provoke complications such as strictures, esophageal rings, narrowing ...

Eosinophilic esophagitis in children

Clinical and Applied Immunology Reviews, 2004

Eosinophilic esophagitis is a newly described clinicopathologic entity that is being diagnosed with increasing frequency. Although accepted diagnostic criteria have not been established, the presence of dense eosinophilic inflammation of esophageal mucosa are key. Because of the reflux-type symptomatology, it is commonly misdiagnosed and treated as severe gastroesophageal reflux disease before an appropriate diagnosis is made. The role of food allergens in this disorder is well accepted but the task of identifying specific antigens remains a clinical challenge. Based on animal studies, the pathophysiology appears to involve inflammatory cytokines, interleukin 5 (IL-5) and eotaxin. Therapy remains problematic because of steroid side effects, the unpalatability of the elemental diet, and lack of rigorously designed trials. ą 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The spectrum of pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis beyond infancy: a clinical series of 30 children

The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2000

OBJECTIVES: Eosinophilic esophagitis, previously confused with esophageal inflammation due to gastroesophageal reflux, has recently begun to be distinguished from it. We undertook this analysis of our large series of children with the condition to clarify its spectrum: its presenting symptoms; its relation to allergy, respiratory disease, and reflux; its endoscopic and histological findings; and its diagnosis and therapy. METHODS: We analyzed the details of our clinical series of 30 children with eosinophilic esophagitis, defining it as Ն5 eosinophils per high power field in the distal esophageal epithelium. Retrospective chart review was supplemented by prospective, blinded, duplicate quantitative evaluation of histology specimens, and by telephone contact with some families to clarify subsequent course. Presentation and analysis of the series as a whole is preceded by a case illustrating a typical presentation with dysphagia and recurrent esophageal food impactions. RESULTS: Presenting symptoms encompass vomiting, pain, and dysphagia (some with impactions or strictures). Allergy, particularly food allergy, is an associated finding in most patients, and many have concomitant asthma or other chronic respiratory disease. A subtle granularity with furrows or rings is newly identified as the endoscopic herald of histological eosinophilic esophagitis. Histological characteristics include peripapillary or juxtaluminal eosinophil clustering in certain cases. Association with eosinophilic gastroenteritis occurs, but is not common. Differentiation from gastroesophageal reflux disease is approached by analyzing eosinophil density and response to therapeutic trials. Therapy encompasses dietary elimination and anti-inflammatory pharmacotherapy. CONCLUSION: Awareness of the spectrum of eosinophilic esophagitis should promote optimal diagnosis and treatment of this elusive entity, both in children and in adults.

Eosinophilic Esophagitis in Children: Clinical Manifestations

Gastroenterology Clinics of North America, 2008

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an emerging chronic immune and antigen-mediated clinicopathologic disease. During the last 2 decades, the incidence of this condition in children has increased significantly, thanks to practitioners for creating the awareness and higher use of diagnostic endoscopy. We have analysed paediatric literature on EoE focusing on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical findings and diagnostic approach. EoE is pathogenically related to a Th2 inflammation characterized by a mixed IgE and non-IgEmediated reaction to food and/or environmental agents. This leads to esophageal dysfunction and remodeling accompanied by subepithelial fibrosis. EoE can be presented with several range of gastrointestinal symptoms, including regurgitation, vomiting, feeding difficulties or feeding refusal in infants and toddlers, as well as heartburn, dysphagia and food bolus impaction in older children and adults. The diagnostic suspicion is based on the presence of chronic symptoms of esophgeal dysfunction and esophageal eosinophilia characterised histologically by a significant eosinophilic infiltration of the oesophageal mucosa (>15 eosinophils per high powered field). In this review, we will provide an update on clinical presentation and diagnostic approach to EoE in children. We emphasized on the relevant aspects of the new clinical condition termed "PPI responsive esophageal eosinophilia", as entities distinct from EoE and the role of PPI trial in the diagnostic workup, therefore we proposed a new diagnostic algorithm.

Eosinophilic esophagitis in children – current state of the problem

2020

In recent years, eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) has become a general clinical problem for allergists and gastroenterologists. The prevalence of EE is two times more likely to occur in children than in adults. Despite the large number of studies, it is considered that the aetiology and pathogenesis of EE have not been completely determined. The peculiarity of EE is that inflammatory changes are focal and evenly cover the distal and proximal oesophagus. During the allergic inflammatory process of the epithelium the oesophagus acquires hyperplastic characteristics, which causes the accumulation of eosinophils within it. The clinical picture of EE is nonspecific and varies according to the child’s age and the degree of progression of the disease. It is known that the onset of EE in children or adolescents subsequently leads to the need for endoscopic and surgical correction of dysphagia, strictures, narrowing of the oesophagus in a low number of these patients.

Eosinophilic esophagitis in children and adolescents: epidemiology, clinical presentation and seasonal variation

Journal of Gastroenterology, 2013

Background Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is defined by infiltration of eosinophils in the esophageal mucosa ([20 eosinophils/hpf). The epidemiology and seasonal variation have not been well studied in children and adolescents. Methods Review of all esophageal biopsies performed from January 2001 to December 2006 on patients younger than 21 year of age, focusing on demographics, onset and duration of presenting symptoms, history of allergies and endoscopic findings. Results A total of 753 upper endoscopies were performed, 44 of which showed histologic evidence of EoE (5.8 %). Fifty percent of all EoE endoscopies were grossly normal. Onset of symptoms was 23 % in the spring, 29 % in the summer, 23 % in the fall and 25 % in the winter.

Eosinophilic esophagitis in Saudi children: Symptoms, histology and endoscopy results

Saudi Journal of Gastroenterology, 2011

Background/Aim: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) is a clinicopathologic entity characterized by esophageal symptoms in association with a dense eosinophilic infiltrate currently defined as >15 eosinophils per high power field in the appropriate clinical context. This is the first pediatric study in Saudi Arabia to give the experience with EE and examine its symptom, histology and endoscopy results. Materials and Methods: Retrospective chart review of all patients diagnosed with EE at National Guard Hospital, Jeddah Between 2007 and 2009. The authors identified EE on histologic criteria (≥15 eosinophils per high-power field) together with their clinical context. The authors reviewed medical records for details of clinical presentation, laboratory data, radiologic, endoscopic, and histologic findings, and the results of treatment. Results: We identified 15 patients in our database in the last three years. 100% of the patients were males. The median age at presentation was 10 years (range, 3-17 years). The commonly reported symptoms were failure to thrive (86%), epigastric abdominal pain (53%), poor eating (40%), dysphagia with solid food (26%), food impaction (13%), and vomiting (20%). Asthma was reported in 46% and allergic rhinitis in 40%. Peripheral eosinophilia (>0.7 × 10/l) was found in 66%. High serum IgE Level (>60 IU/ml) was found in 60%. Upper endoscopic analysis revealed esophageal trachealization in 46%, esophageal erythema in 46%, white specks on the esophageal mucosa in 33%, esophageal narrowing in 13%, and normal endoscopy in 13%. The mean eosinophils per high-power field was 30.4 (range, 20-71). Histologic characteristics included degranulated eosinophils (86%), basal cell hyperplasia (93%) and eosinophils clusters (micro-abscess) in 73%. The treatment of EE revealed that they used swallowed corticosteroid in 50%, proton pump inhibitors in 66%, elemental diet/ food elimination in 13% and systemic corticosteroid in 13%. Conclusions: Failure to thrive and abdominal pain in a male, atopic school-aged child was the most common feature of EE. Peripheral eosinophilia, high serum IgE and endoscopic esophageal erythema and trachealization should significantly raise the clinical index of suspicion for the diagnosis of EE.

Clinico-pathological characteristics of eosinophilic esophagitis in Jordanian children

Gastroenterology Review

Introduction: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic, immune-mediated disorder manifested by symptoms of impaired esophageal function and hypereosinophilic esophageal inflammation. It is believed that the number of patients being diagnosed globally is increasing. Aim: To describe the frequency and clinicopathological features of EoE in Jordanian children. Material and methods: A retrospective review of all paediatric patients with eosinophilic esophagitis diagnosed and followed up at our paediatric gastroenterology service at King Abdullah University Hospital between January 2015 and January 2020. Results: During the study period, 21 patients were diagnosed with EoE out of 700 diagnostic endoscopic procedures. Only 1 (4.8%) female was diagnosed. The average age at presentation was 9.5 years (age range: 1-16 years). The most common manifestation was solid food dysphagia (15, 71.4%), followed by food impaction and vomiting (11, 52.4% and 6, 28.6%, respectively). Atopy was diagnosed in 10 (47.6%) patients. Four (19.0%) had food allergy, 3 (14.3%) had respiratory allergy, and 3 (14.3%) had combined. Linear furrows and circular rings were the most common endoscopic features-17 (81.0%) and 10 (47.6%), respectively, while papillary elongation, basal zone hyperplasia, and eosinophilic infiltrate were the most common reported histopathological features. Almost all patients received proton pump inhibitors (19, 90.5%). Steroids were used in 18 (85.7%) patients; local steroids in 11 (52.4%), and oral steroids in 7 (33.3%). Out of the 4 (19%) patients with esophageal strictures, 2 (9.5%) required pneumatic dilatation. Conclusions: Eosinophilic esophagitis is not uncommon in our community. Clinical and histological parameters point to delayed referral and diagnosis. Increasing awareness of this problem will lead to early diagnosis and will decrease complications.