title: Clinical, endoscopic, histological and radiological characteristics of Italian patients with eosinophilic oesophagitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Limited data are available on eosinophilic oesophagitis in Italy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate typical features of eosinophilic oesophagitis patients in a tertiary centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  973 consecutive patients with dysphagia and/or bolus impaction were prospectively enrolled and underwent upper endoscopy for eosinophilic oesophagitis (≥15 eosinophils in at least one high-power field [hpf] and no response to acid suppressants). Demographic and multiple clinical factors were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  45 patients (80% males, mean age 35±16) with incident eosinophilic oesophagitis (mean eosinophil peak count 57.2±40.6/hpf) were enrolled. 32 patients complained of solids dysphagia (71%), and 29 of bolus impaction (64%). Endoscopy found rings in 20 (44%), furrows in 9 (20%), whitish exudates/plaques in 12 (27%), crêpe paper in 7 (13%) and normal findings in 14 patients (31%). Endoscopic and radiologic stenosis occurred in 20 (44%) and 23 (51%), respectively. Ten patients had proton pump inhibitor-oesophageal eosinophilia (22%). Topic fluticasone was effective in 28 of the remaining cases (62%), while 7 required additional treatments (16%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eosinophilic oesophagitis prevalence was 12% in patients with dysphagia and/or bolus impaction, emphasizing the importance of this disease in Italy. Despite different environmental factors and dietary habits, Italian patients with eosinophilic oesophagitis present similar characteristics to those of other Western counties.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy. Electronic address: edoardo.savarino@unipd.it.
authors.forename: Edoardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Savarino
authors.affiliation: Division of General and Bariatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tolone
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caccaro
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Ottavia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bartolo
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Galeazzi
authors.affiliation: U.O. Clinica Chirurgica 3, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Loredana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nicoletti
authors.affiliation: U.O. Clinica Chirurgica 3, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Morbin
authors.affiliation: U.O. Clinica Chirurgica 3, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zanatta
authors.affiliation: U.O. Clinica Chirurgica 3, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Salvador
authors.affiliation: U.O. Clinica Chirurgica 3, Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Costantini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001993:Bronchodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004724:Endoscopy; D057765:Eosinophilic Esophagitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D000068298:Fluticasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001993:Bronchodilator Agents; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors; D000068298:Fluticasone
keywords: Eosinophilic oesophagitis; Epidemiology; GERD; PPI