PPI-responsive esophageal eosinophilia cannot be distinguished from eosinophilic esophagitis by endoscopic signs.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic antigen-mediated disease histologically characterized by eosinophil-predominant inflammation. One-third of patients respond to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment; this group is identified as having PPI-responsive esophageal eosinophilia (PPI-REE). If we could predict the response to PPIs on the basis of endoscopic signs, futile treatment efforts and additional endoscopies to assess treatment response can be prevented. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether endoscopic signs can distinguish PPI-REE from EoE. METHODS: Endoscopic images of 30 EoE and 30 PPI-REE patients were included. Baseline characteristics were compared between groups. Complete clinical remission after a PPI trial for at least 8 weeks was classified as PPI-REE. Per patient, at least three depersonalized images were incorporated into a slideshow. These images were scored by two experienced endoscopists according to a validated classification system. RESULTS: Characteristics were highly comparable between EoE and PPI-REE patients. Endoscopic signs were similar and did not enable differentiation between EoE and PPI-REE [presence of rings (P=0.893), white exudates (P=0.209), furrows (P=0.371), edema (P=0.554), crepe paper esophagus (P=1.000), and strictures (P=0.071)]. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic signs at baseline endoscopy cannot distinguish EoE from PPI-REE before a PPI trial; the demographic and clinical characteristics in both groups are similar. Endoscopic features do not enable differentiation between PPI-REE and EoE.