[Eosinophilic esophagitis in 29 pediatric patients].

BACKGROUND: Eosinophilic esophagitis is a recently described entity with esophageal symptoms like gastroesophageal reflux disease and significant esophageal eosinophilic infiltration.

AIM: To present our clinical series of 29 children with eosinophilic esophagitis, describing the clinical and diagnostic features, treatment and outcome.

METHODS: We describe 29 patients (22 boys), 1-18 years-old, with 20 eosinophils per high-power field in esophageal biopsy specimens and absence of eosinophilic inflammation in the stomach and duodenum. Evaluation of the clinical, endoscopic and histologic findings, treatment and outcome was undertaken.

RESULTS: The most common presenting symptoms included vomiting in 15 patients (52%) and abdominal pain in 11 patients (38%). Children under the age of 4 years presented with feeding disorder and failure to thrive. Patients between 5 and 8 years of age presented commonly with abdominal pain or symptoms that may be associated with reflux (heartburn and/or vomiting). Patients over the age of 8 presented most often with abdominal pain, dysphagia and occasional food impaction. Endoscopic features included vertical furrowing in 14 patients (48%), whitish papules in 12 (41%), corrugated rings in 2 patients (7%) and esophageal erosions in 3 patients (10%). In seven patients endoscopy was normal (24%). Treatment included swallowed fluticasone propionate in 19 patients and restriction diet in 7 patients. Patients who returned for follow-up had either improvement or remission of symptoms. After treatment, endoscopic biopsies were repeated in 11 patients, and a significant decrease in esophageal eosinophil counts was observed.

CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis must be considered when symptoms of reflux do not respond to conventional treatment. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy must be complemented by a detailed analysis of histologic findings and eosinophil counts.