Gut Liver.  2024 Jul;18(4):632-641. 10.5009/gnl230398.

Long-term Outcome of Asymptomatic Esophageal Eosinophilia

• Suzuki Y
• Ochiai Y
• Kikuchi D
• Koseki M
• Ohashi K
• Hoteya S

• KMID: 2558169
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5009/gnl230398

Abstract

Background/Aims
Asymptomatic esophageal eosinophilia (aEE), characterized by eosinophil infiltration in the esophagus without clinical symptoms, has been reported as a precursor of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Nevertheless, no report exists on the long-term clinical course of the disease. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the long-term clinical course of aEE over 5 years, including the symptomatic conversion rate and the effect of treatments.
Methods
We reviewed 28 patients with aEE who had been followed up for over 5 years with endoscopic monitoring. The basal characteristics of patients were compared with those of 58 patients diagnosed with EoE during the same period. Patients’ clinicopathological findings were collected and examined.
Results
No significant differences in basal characteristics and histopathological findings were observed between the patients with aEE and those with EoE. The median follow-up duration was 64 months. Among the 28 patients with aEE, seven were treated with proton pump inhibitor or potassium-competitive acid blocker and the remaining 21 opted for follow-up with no medication. Among the treated patients, six (85.7%) exhibited endoscopic and pathologic improvements. Among the cases followed up without medication, the findings worsened in two (9.5%), improved spontaneously in seven (33.3%), and were unchanged in 12 (57.1%), and three (14.3%) developed symptoms at a mean time of 40 months. Symptoms developed in cases where endoscopic and pathologic findings remained unchanged or worsened during follow-up.
Conclusions
Some patients with aEE had improved findings without treatment, whereas others developed symptoms, emphasizing the importance of long-term monitoring and individualized treatment decisions.

Keyword

Eosinophilic esophagitis; Esophageal diseases; Endoscopy