Clinical Manifestations of Eosinophilic Esophagitis in Children and Adolescents: A Single-Center, Matched Case-Control Study
10.5223/pghn.2020.23.4.319
- Author:
Ji Hyeon ROH
1
;
Eell RYOO
;
Hann TCHAH
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From:Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
2020;23(4):319-328
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Purpose:To examine the prevalence and clinical manifestations of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) in Korea children.
Methods:The study was designed as a 1:2 matching case-control study. Using information from the endoscopic database of a tertiary center, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients aged 18 years or younger who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy between January 2014 and December 2017. A total of 21 patients were diagnosed with EoE based on current diagnostic criteria. In addition, 42 controls with normal esophageal biopsy findings matched to each EoE case by sex, age (±1 months), and season were randomly selected during the study period.
Results:The mean age of EoE diagnosis was 12.1±4.0 years and the male-to-female ratio was 2:1. The proportion of allergic diseases in patients with EoE (28.6%) was higher than that in the controls (6.8%) (p=0.04). Most EoE patients tested for allergy were positive for at least one antigen, which was significantly different to the controls (88.2% vs. 47.4%, p=0.01). Characteristic endoscopic findings of EoE were noted in 19 patients (90.5%), but 2 patients (9.5%) showed normal esophageal mucosa. The clinical symptoms of EoE were improved by a proton-pump inhibitor in 10 patients (50.0%), and by an H2 blocker in 9 patients (45.0%). Only one patient (5.0%) required inhaled steroids.
Conclusion:While EoE is rare in the Korean pediatric population, the results of this study will improve our understanding of the clinical manifestations of the disease.
