Outcomes of inflammatory bowel disease in patients with eosinophil-predominant colonic inflammation.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterised by acute intestinal mucosal inflammation with chronic inflammatory features. Various degrees of mucosal eosinophilia are present along with the typical acute (neutrophil-predominant) inflammation. The effect of intestinal eosinophils on IBD outcomes remains unclear. Methods: This is a retrospective study. Archived intestinal mucosal biopsy specimens of treatment-naïve IBD patients were examined by two pathologists. The number of eosinophils per high-power field was counted, and the mucosal inflammation was classified according to the eosinophilic inflammatory patterns. Clinical outcomes during the follow-up period were recorded. Results: 142 treatment-naïve IBD patients were included. Mean age was 39 years. 83% of patients had ulcerative colitis, and median follow-up was 3 years. 41% of patients had disease flare(s) and 24% required hospitalisation. Eosinophil count was not associated with risk of disease flare or hospitalisation. Patients with neutrophil-predominant inflammation (>70% neutrophils) had greater risk of disease flare(s): 27(55%) versus 24(36%) and 7(28%) in patients with mixed and eosinophil-predominant inflammation, respectively (p=0.04). Overall, patients with neutrophil-predominant inflammation were more likely to have a disease flare; HR: 2.49, 95% CI (1.0 to 5.6). Hospitalisation rate was higher in patients with neutrophil-predominant inflammation: 17(35%) compared to 17(19%) in patients with eosinophil-rich inflammation (p=0.04). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed higher flare-free survival in patients with eosinophil-predominant inflammation compared to mixed and neutrophil-predominant inflammation. Conclusion: IBD patients with eosinophil-predominant inflammation phenotype might have reduced risk of disease flares and hospitalisation. Larger prospective studies to assess IBD outcomes in this subpopulation are warranted.

A Holistic Approach to Diagnosing and Treating Dysphagia.

We report a 39-year-old Native American female with an almost 20-year history of dysphagia that had increased in the 6 months prior to the initial evaluation. Investigation revealed a number of distinct esophageal disorders including Plummer-Vinson syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease with esophagitis, distal esophageal stricture, esophageal intramural pseudo-diverticulosis, and recurrent esophageal Candida infections. Although prolonged therapy with proton pump inhibitors, fluconazole, nystatin, and repeated esophageal balloon dilations relieved her symptoms, her prognosis remains uncertain.