title: Prevalence and endoscopic features of eosinophilic esophagitis in patients with esophageal or upper gastrointestinal symptoms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was aimed to evaluate the prevalence of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) among patients with esophageal or upper gastrointestinal (UGI) symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with esophageal or UGI symptoms including dysphagia food impaction, acid regurgitation, heartburn, chest pain, epigastric pain, nausea and/or vomiting were prospectively collected. The enrolled patients responded to a symptomatic questionnaire and underwent an esophagogastroduodenoscopy and esophageal biopsies. Supportive endoscopic findings of EoE (ring-like appearance, liner furrows, whitish papules, shearing or friability) were recorded. EoE was diagnosed if patients had chronic UGI or esophageal symptoms, the esophageal biopsy showed ≥15 eosinophils/high-power field and were unresponsive to 2-3 weeks of proton pump inhibitors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 122 patients were enrolled and supportive endoscopic findings were found in 31 (25.4%) patients [whitish papules: 19 (15.6%), ring-like appearance: 8 (6.6%), linear furrows: 5 (4.1%)]. One patient had a simultaneous ring-like appearance and linear furrows. EoE was diagnosed in 8 (6.6%) patients and supportive endoscopic findings and past history of gastroesophageal reflux disease, allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis were more common in EoE positive than EoE negative patients. The diagnostic yield of endoscopic findings was 40.0% (2/5) in linear furrows, 25.0% (2/8) in ring-like appearance and 15.8% (3/19) in whitish papules.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of EoE among patients with esophageal or UGI symptoms was 6.6%. Linear furrows and ring-like appearance had a relatively high diagnostic value.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Guro Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Moon Kyung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.forename: Jong-Jae
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sung-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Key Hyeon
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Wonho
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Jae-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Beom Jae
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ji Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jong Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Yeon
authors.forename: Jae Seon
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kwan Soo
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Byun
authors.forename: Sang Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young-Tae
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Bak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D016145:Endoscopy, Digestive System / Q000379:methods; D057765:Eosinophilic Esophagitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000209:etiology; D006356:Heartburn / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011446:Prospective Studies