The Endoscopic Reference Score shows modest accuracy to predict either clinical or histological activity in adult patients with eosinophilic oesophagitis.

BACKGROUND: Conflicting results have been recently reported for the accuracy of the Endoscopic Reference Score (EREFS), an standardised endoscopic classification, to predict the histological activity of eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE). AIM: To evaluate the accuracy of the EREFS to predict either histological or clinical activity of EoE. METHODS: Prospective multicentre study conducted in eight Spanish centres evaluating adult EoE patients, either naïve or after treatment. Symptoms were evaluated before upper endoscopy through the Dysphagia Symptom Score, whereas researchers scored the EREFS immediately after the endoscopic procedure, unaware of the histological outcome. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-five EoE patients undergoing 240 consecutive endoscopic procedures were included. Exudates (P = 0.03), furrows (P = 0.03) and a composite score of inflammatory signs (exudates, furrows and oedema) (P < 0.001) accurately predicted histological activity. Exudates were the only endoscopic sign showing a good correlation with histological outcome after therapy. Furrows and oedema persisted in 50% and 70% of patients despite histological remission. No endoscopic feature exceeded 70% accuracy to predict histological activity. Likewise, no endoscopic finding could adequately predict dysphagia severity. Crepe paper mucosa, diffuse exudates and severe rings correlated with higher symptom scores. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic findings assessed by the Endoscopic Reference Score did not correlate with histological or clinical disease activity in adult EoE patients. Only exudates correlated with peak eosinophil count and histological outcome, whereas furrows and oedema persisted in over half of patients despite histological remission.

Efficacy of IgE-targeted vs empiric six-food elimination diets for adult eosinophilic oesophagitis.

BACKGROUND: Skin testing-guided elimination diet has proved unsuccessful for adult eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE), whereas empiric six-food elimination diet (SFED) achieves an efficacy of 70%. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of food-specific serum IgE-targeted elimination diet (sIgE-ED) and SFED. METHODS: Prospective study in adult patients with EoE. Food-specific serum IgE, skin prick test (SPT) and atopy patch test (APT) to foods included in SFED were performed. Those with ≥1 positive IgE test, defined by ≥0.1 kU/l, followed a 6-week sIgE-ED, whereas non-IgE-sensitized patients underwent a 6-week SFED. Responders to diet (<15 eos/HPF) underwent individual reintroduction of foods followed by histological assessment. RESULTS: Forty-three EoE patients were included (26 sIgE-ED and 17 SFED). Regarding sIgE-ED, the mean number of eliminated foods per patient was significantly lower than in SFED (3.81 vs 6; P < 0.001), being wheat (85%), nuts (73%) and cow's milk (61%) the most commonly foods withdrawn. No difference in histological response was observed between sIgE-ED and SFED (73% vs 53%, P = 0.17). Causative foods identified by food challenge were cow's milk (64%), wheat (28%), egg (21%) and legumes (7%), with a single food trigger in 71% of patients. sIgE exhibited the higher accuracy to predict offending foods in IgE-sensitized patients (sensitivity 87.5%, specificity 68% (κ = 0.43)), with k values of 1 for cow's milk. APT results were all negative. CONCLUSIONS: Histological remission was accomplished in 73% of patients undergoing sIgE-ED, which was nonsignificantly superior to SFED. sIgE effectively identified cow's milk as a food trigger in IgE-sensitized patients.

[Predictive factors of eosinophilic esophagitis in esophageal food bolus impaction]. / Factores predictores de esofagitis eosinofílica en impactación esofágica por bolo alimenticio.

BACKGROUND: Food bolus esophageal impaction is often the first symptom in patients diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis, representing a change in the epidemiology and management of this urgency. AIM: To detect eosinophilic esophagitis predictive factors in patients with esophageal impaction due to food bolus. METHODS: Patients seen for foreign body impaction were retrospectively analyzed. Epidemiologic characteristics, endoscopic findings, and impaction history were studied. The statistical analysis was carried out using the Student's t test and the chi square test and a logistic regression model. RESULTS: Of the 131 patients, 65% were men and the mean age was 56 years. The endoscopic suspicion of eosinophilic esophagitis was the most frequent finding in patients with food bolus impaction (n=89); those patients that did not have histologic confirmation were excluded (n=7). The remaining patients (n=82) were divided into two groups: confirmed eosinophilic esophagitis (Group A) (n=18) and other endoscopic findings (Group B) (n=64). Group A presented with a lower mean age (36.47 vs. 64.45, P=.001) and a more frequent past history of impaction (38% vs. 6%, OR=15.70, 95% CI (3.60-62.50), P=.001) than Group B. Age and impaction history acted as predictors for eosinophilic esophagitis with 82% sensitivity, 80% specificity, and 84% diagnostic accuracy (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Age and a history of impaction predict the presence of eosinophilic esophagitis in patients with food bolus impaction.

[Usefulness of self-expanding biodegradable prosthesis in the treatment of refractory benign stenosis: a case series study]. / Utilidad de las prótesis autoexpandibles biodegradables en el tratamiento de estenosis benignas refractarias. Estudio de una serie de casos.

BACKGROUND: The use of self-expanding biodegradable prosthesis treatment of refractory benign stenosis is still undefined. OBJECTIVE: To determine the utility and safety of biodegradable polydioxanone prostheses as treatment of gastrointestinal tract refractory benign strictures. METHODS: Consecutive patients diagnosed with refractory benign stricture of gastrointestinal tract following Kochman's criteria were included. The type of stenosis were anastomotic (n = 5), peptic (n = 1), post-radiotherapy (n = 1) and they were located in proximal esophagus-hypofarynge (n = 2), esophagus medium (n = 1), distal esophagus (n = 2) and rectum (n = 2). The prosthesis was placed under endoscopic and fluoroscopic control under conscious sedation with propofol. RESULTS: Seven patients (8 prosthesis) were included. Mean patient age was 49 years-old (range: 37-70). Insertion prosthesis was successful in all cases. Distal migration of prosthesis was observed in both rectal stenosis and was the indication of a second prosthesis placement in one case. At the end of follow-up (median follow-up 30 weeks for esophageal stricture, 33 weeks for rectal stricture) 5 patients remained asymptomatic. Eighty per cent of patients with esophageal stenosis showed partial and transient re-stenosis due to hyperplastic reaction during the degradation of the prosthesis, with transient dysphagia in two patients resolved medically. Complete prosthesis degradation was confirmed by endoscopy in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: The use of self-expanding biodegradable polydioxanone prosthesis is a safe and utile therapeutic option for refractory benign gastrointestinal stenosis.