Prevalence of esophageal eosinophilia in patients referred for diagnostic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy

Background: Several conditions are associated with esophageal eosinophilia such as eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). The aim of this study was to detect the prevalence of esophageal eosinophilia in patients with upper gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms referred for diagnostic upper GI endoscopy. This study included 86 patients who underwent upper GI endoscopy and biopsies. Results: Esophageal eosinophilia EE was found in 26 patients (30.2%): 3 patients (3.5%) had EoE and 23 patients (26.7%) had low-grade esophageal eosinophilia. The most common presenting symptoms were heart burn in 84 patients (97.7%) and upper abdominal pain in 78 patients (90.7%). Reflux esophagitis (ERD) was observed in 18.6% of patients. In histopathological examination, EoE was found in 3.5%, mild reflux esophagitis in 37.2%, and severe reflux esophagitis in 16.3%. There is statistically significant correlation between EE and male sex, hypertension, dysphagia, hiatus hernia, incompetent cardia, and fixed rings. Age, incompetent cardia, and dysphagia were statistically significant independent predictors of low-grade EE. Conclusion: Esophageal eosinophilia EE was found in 30.2% of patients: 3.5% had eosinophilic esophagitis EoE and 26.7% had low-grade esophageal eosinophilia.