title: Clinical characteristics of Japanese patients with eosinophilic esophagitis and eosinophilic gastroenteritis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The clinical characteristics of Japanese patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) have not been fully clarified. For understanding the pathogenesis as well as providing support for accurate diagnosis, precise information regarding clinical characteristics of these diseases is important.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire-based survey of EoE and EGE was conducted in 1,078 teaching hospitals. Clinical data of patients with confirmed EoE or EGE diagnosed from 2004 to 2009 were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical data from 26 patients with EoE and 144 patients with EGE were collected. The mean ages of patients in both groups were in the 40s. Those with EoE frequently complained of dysphagia and heartburn, and had characteristic endoscopic features such as longitudinal furrows and multiple concentric rings in the esophagus, while only 34% had peripheral eosinophilia. Patients with EGE frequently complained of abdominal pain and diarrhea, and approximately 80% of them have peripheral eosinophilia. They did not have characteristic endoscopic features helpful for diagnosis. Computed tomography (CT) findings and the presence of peripheral eosinophilia were diagnostic for EGE. EGE patients with a small intestinal involvement showed the highest peripheral eosinophil counts. Glucocorticoid administration was the most widely used treatment for these diseases and its effect was favorable for at least induction of remission.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EGE is more prevalent than EoE in Japan. Patients with EGE have abdominal pain and diarrhea, high peripheral eosinophil counts, and gastrointestinal wall thickening identifiable by CT findings, while EoE is characterized by dysphagia and characteristic endoscopic features.
authors: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shimane University School of Medicine, 89-1, Enya, Izumo, Shimane, 693-8501, Japan. kinosita@med.shimane-u.ac.jp
authors: Yoshikazu
authors: Y
authors: Kinoshita
authors: Kenji
authors: K
authors: Furuta
authors: Norihisa
authors: N
authors: Ishimaura
authors: Shunji
authors: S
authors: Ishihara
authors: Shuichi
authors: S
authors: Sato
authors: Riruke
authors: R
authors: Maruyama
authors: Shuichi
authors: S
authors: Ohara
authors: Takayuki
authors: T
authors: Matsumoto
authors: Choitsu
authors: C
authors: Sakamoto
authors: Toshiyuki
authors: T
authors: Matsui
authors: Satoshi
authors: S
authors: Ishikawa
authors: Tsutomu
authors: T
authors: Chiba
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods; D004751:Enteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D057765:Eosinophilic Esophagitis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005756:Gastritis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006306:Health Surveys; D006356:Heartburn / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids