ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an immune-mediated disease, manifested by dysphagia and characterized by intraepithelial infiltration: more than 15 eosinophils per field of view at x400 magnification, and requiring differential diagnosis with reflux esophagitis (RE). OBJECTIVE: To access the implication of EoE histologic scoring system (EoEHSS) for differential diagnosis of EoE and RE and to characterize features of immune response in these diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 38 patients with EoE and 38 patients with RE were enrolled in the study. All the patients had esophagogastroduodenoscopy with biopsy. Biopsy specimens were stained with H&E and combined PAS/Alcian blue staining. Immunohistochemical evaluation was conducted with antibodies to CD3, CD4, CD8, CD20, CD56 and CD68. RESULTS: Grade score of EoEHSS in EoE was 2.4 times more than in RE (p<0.05). Stage score in EoE was 2.75 more than in RE (p<0.05). Intraepithelial count of CD3+ T-lymphocytes comprised 87 (76-95.5) in high-power view in EoE and 45 (38.5-48.5) in high-power view in RE. Intraepithelial count of CD4+ T-lymphocytes was 35 (28-41.5) in high-power view in EoE and 19 (16.5- 22.5) in high-power view in RE. Intraepithelial count of CD8+ T-lymphocytes comprised 59 (50.5-67.5) in high-power field in EoE and 27 (24-28.5) in high-power field in RE. CONCLUSION: The use of the EoEHSS histological rating scale for eosinophilic esophagitis is effective in the differential diagnosis of EoE and EC. Predominant cells in intraepithelial infiltrate are CD3+ T-lymphocytes both in EoE and RE, CD8+ cells prevail over CD4+ cells. In EoE intraepithelial count of CD3+ T-lymphocytes is 1.93 times more, count of intraepithelial CD4+ lymphocytes is 1.84 times more and count of CD8+ lymphocytes is 2.19 times more than in RE.