Eosinophilic esophagitis: current evidence-based diagnosis and treatment in children and adults.

Eosinophilic esophagitis: current evidence-based diagnosis and treatment in children and adults. Minerva Gastroenterol Dietol. 2017 Sep 11;: Authors: Lucendo AJ Abstract Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a disease caused by an immune response to food antigens in contact with the esophageal mucosa that has arisen as a common disorder in current clinical practice. Its diagnosis is defined by the combination of symptoms of esophageal dysfunction and inflammation of the esophageal mucosa predominantly by eosinophils. Its chronic course and frequent progression to subepithelial fibrosis leading to strictures and narrow-caliber esophagus indicate the need for treatment. Information provided by recent clinical trials and systematic reviews allowed for the development of new clinical guidelines, endorsed by several European scientific societies. This review summarizes its most relevant aspects, updates the concept of EoE, reports its epidemiology and risk factors, associated conditions and its natural history in children and adults. Diagnostic criteria of EoE have been updated, after the relationships discovered between the disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Endoscopy with biopsies remains as the only accurate test for EoE diagnosis and monitoring, which warrants research on minimally invasive methods. Therapeutic options for EoE are analyzed based on best scientific evidence and expert opinion. Drugs with anti- inflammatory effica...
Source: Minerva Gastroenterologica e Dietologica - Category: Gastroenterology Tags: Minerva Gastroenterol Dietol Source Type: research