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Title

Fluticasone and Food Allergen Elimination Reverse Sub-epithelial Fibrosis in Children with Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Authors

Samer M.A. Abu-Sultaneh
Paul Durst
Virginia Maynard
Yoram Elitsur

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

Winter 1-1-2011

Abstract

Background

Symptoms of vomiting and dysphagia in children with eosinophilic esophagitis may be related to the development of mucosal fibrosis.

Aim

Our aims were to (1) investigate esophageal fibrosis in children with EoE compared to patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and normal individuals, and (2) to assess the degree of mucosal fibrosis in patients with EoE before and after medical treatment.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of esophageal biopsies from patients with EoE, GERD, and normal mucosa was performed. Demographic data, clinical information, eosinophil number, and sub-epithelial fibrosis was compared among the groups. A similar comparison was performed in EoE patients, before and after therapy.

Results

Esophageal biopsies from 53 children were included, of which 17 with EoE, 17 GERD, and 19 were normal. A significantly higher number of eosinophils and greater fibrosis was found in EoE patients vs. GERD and normal (fibrosis grade 2: 13 patients in the EoE group vs. one patient for each control group; p = 0.0001). After therapy, a significant decrease in fibrosis and eosinophils number was noted in EoE patients [fibrosis grade 2: 10 (71.5%) patients vs. one (7.1%) patient, and eosinophil count was 35.5/HPF vs. 13.4/HPF, pre- and post-therapy, respectively; p < 0.05]. The decrease in esophageal fibrosis paralleled the improvement in the related clinical symptoms.

Conclusion

A higher degree of esophageal fibrosis was found in patients with EoE compared to GERD or normal esophagus. Conventional therapy in EoE improved obstructive symptoms, decreased eosinophils count, and reversed the degree of fibrosis. We suggest that appropriate therapy in patients with EoE will improve clinical symptoms and histology.

Comments

This article first appeared in Volume 56, Issue 1 of Digestive Diseases and Sciences. Samer MA Abu-Sultaneh, Paul Durst, Virginia Maynard, and Yoram Elitsur. "Fluticasone and food allergen elimination reverse sub-epithelial fibrosis in children with eosinophilic esophagitis." Digestive diseases and sciences 56, no. 1 (2011): 97-102., and is reprinted with permission. The final publication is available at http://www.springerlink.com

Recommended Citation

Abu-Sultaneh SM, Durst P, Maynard V, Elitsur Y. Fluticasone and food allergen elimination reverse sub-epithelial fibrosis in children with eosinophilic esophagitis. Dig Dis Sci 2011;56:97-102.