Gluten-free diet does not appear to induce endoscopic remission of eosinophilic esophagitis in children with coexistent celiac disease.
BACKGROUND
Celiac disease and eosinophilic esophagitis are usually considered to be separate gastrointestinal diseases; however, it appears that they may coexist more often than would be expected. It is unknown whether eosinophilic esophagitis in patients with celiac disease responds to a gluten-free diet.


OBJECTIVE
To examine the clinical, endoscopic and histological features of children with both conditions to evaluate whether eosinophilic esophagitis responds to a gluten-free diet.


METHODS
From January 1, 2009, to June 30, 2011, the medical records of children <18 years of age diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis and⁄or celiac disease were reviewed. Patients with clinical, endoscopic and histological diagnoses of both diseases were identified and included. These findings were analyzed, as were laboratory results, treatment and follow-up.


RESULTS
During the study period, there were 206 celiac disease patients, 86 eosinophilic esophagitis patients and nine (4.4% of total celiac) patients with both diagnoses. Gluten-free diet was the primary treatment for both conditions in seven of nine (78%) cases. In six of these seven (86%) patients, no endoscopic or histological improvement of eosinophilic esophagitis was observed, while in one patient, histological remission of esophageal eosinophilia occurred while on a gluten-free diet.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of eosinophilic esophagitis in patients with celiac disease was 4.4%, confirming a higher than expected prevalence of eosinophilic esophagitis compared with the general population. In patients with celiac disease, a gluten-free diet did not appear to induce remission of coexistent endoscopic and histological features of eosinophilic esophagitis.
Department of Pediatrics, Stollery Children's Hospital, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta.
Joseph R
JR
Abraham
Rabin
R
Persad
Justine M
JM
Turner
Hien Q
HQ
Huynh
D000293:Adolescent; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D055050:Diet, Gluten-Free; D057765:Eosinophilic Esophagitis / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome