Impaired esophageal motor function in eosinophilic esophagitis

Mucosal and Submucosal Thickening of Esophageal Wall Is a Promising Factor in the Development of Symptoms in Eosinophilic Esophagitis

Background/Aims

Asymptomatic esophageal eosinophilia (aEE) is considered to be a potential precursor of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). However, there are few clinical parameters that can be used to evaluate the disease. Therefore, we aimed to clarify the factors involved in the symptoms of EoE by examining the clinicopathological differences between aEE and EoE.

Methods

We reviewed 41 patients with esophageal eosinophilia who underwent endoscopic ultrasonography and high-resolution manometry. They were divided into the aEE group (n=16) and the EoE group (n=25) using the Frequency Scale for the Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease score. The patients' clinicopathological findings were collected and examined.

Results

The median Frequency Scale for the Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease score was 3.0 in the aEE group and 10.0 in the EoE group. There was no significant difference in patient characteristics, endoscopic findings and pathological findings. The cutoff value for wall thickening was 3.13 mm for the total esophageal wall thickness and 2.30 mm for the thickness from the surface to the muscular layer (total esophageal wall thickness: 84.0% sensitivity, 75.0% specificity; thickness from the surface to the muscular layer: 84.0% sensitivity, 68.7% specificity). The high-resolution manometry study was abnormal in seven patients (43.8%) in the aEE group and in 12 (48.0%) in the EoE group. The contractile front velocity was slower in the EoE group (p=0.026).

Conclusions

The esophageal wall thickening in the lower portion of the esophagus is an important clinical factors related to the symptoms in patients with EoE.

Differences in clinical characteristics between conservative-treatment-response group and refractory (surgical-treatment) group in patients with jackhammer esophagus

BACKGROUND

Jackhammer esophagus (JE) is a rare disease with unclear clinical features. The objective of this study was to retrospectively compare the clinical characteristics of patients with JE whose symptoms were controlled with conservative treatment, such as observation or medication, versus those who were required surgical treatment, such as surgical myotomy or per oral endoscopic myotomy.

METHODS

Eighteen patients with JE were included in this study. The patients were divided into two groups: patients who responded to conservative treatment (C group) and patients who were refractory to conservative treatment and underwent surgery (S group). Patient age, sex, disease duration before treatment, symptoms, esophagogastroduodenoscopic (EGD) findings, esophagographic findings, esophageal wall thickness on computed tomography, number of swallows with hypercontractile peristalsis in 10 water swallows, and maximum distal contractile integral (DCI) were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

Thirteen of 18 patients (72%) were in the C group and five of 18 (28%) were in the S group. There were no significant differences in age, sex, disease duration before treatment, symptoms, EGD findings, esophagographic findings, esophageal wall thickness, or number of swallows with hypercontractile peristalsis between the groups. On Starlet high-resolution manometry, the median maximum DCI value was significantly higher in the S group (32,651 mmHg-s-cm) than in the C group (17,926 mmHg-s-cm) (P = 0.0136).

CONCLUSIONS

JE treatment should be carefully considered because some patients require surgery, whereas others are controlled with conservative treatment alone. A higher DCI value in patients with JE may predict resistance to conservative treatment.

Achalasia: physiology and diagnosis

Achalasia is a rare motility disorder with incomplete relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter and ineffective contractions of the esophageal body. It has been hypothesized that achalasia does not result from only one pathway but rather involves a combination of infectious, autoimmune, and familial etiological components. On the basis of other observations, a novel hypothesis suggests that a muscular form of eosinophilic esophagitis is involved in the pathophysiology of achalasia in some patients. This appears to progressively diminish the myenteric plexus at stage III, gradually destroy it at stage II, and finally eliminate it at stage I, the most advanced and final stage of achalasia. Although high-resolution manometry has identified these three different types of achalasia, another subset of patients with a normal-appearing sphincter relaxation has been proposed. Provocative maneuvers, such as the rapid drinking challenge, have recently been demonstrated to improve diagnosis in certain borderline patients, but have to be studied in more detail. However, whether the different types of achalasia will have a long-term impact on tailored therapies is still a matter of debate. Additionally, novel aspects of the standard timed barium swallow appear to be an important adjunct of diagnosis, as it has been shown to have a diagnostic as well as a predictive value.

Esophageal motility disorders in children with dysphagia: the utility of the Chicago classification

BACKGROUND

esophageal manometry is the standard criterion for the evaluation of dysphagia and the diagnosis of a primary motor disorder of the esophagus in adults and children.

AIMS

to describe the diagnosis according to the Chicago classification (CC) v3.0 in children with dysphagia, in whom an esophageal motility disorder was documented. The associated comorbidities were also determined.

METHODS

an observational retrospective study was performed of 54 patients evaluated for dysphagia, who had undergone a high-resolution manometry (HREM).

RESULTS

a normal HREM was found in 52 % (n = 28) of the children, whereas 48 % (n = 26) had some esophageal motility disorder. The most frequent diagnosis was ineffective esophageal motility and achalasia. Excluding previously healthy children, most children had a history of autoimmune disease and intellectual disability.

CONCLUSIONS

an esophageal motor disorder can be diagnosed in nearly half of infants and children with dysphagia. In this study, all esophageal diseases could be classified according to the CC v3.0. HREM should be considered for the evaluation of children with dysphagia, in addition to other studies.

Eosinophilic esophagitis: novel concepts regarding pathogenesis and clinical manifestations

This report explores two hypotheses regarding eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE): (1) that the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) might contribute to the pathogenesis of EoE by preventing peptic digestion of food allergens, by increasing gastric mucosal permeability to enable gastric absorption of those undegraded food allergens, and by causing microbial dysbiosis, and (2) that EoE, like eosinophilic gastroenteritis, might have mucosal-predominant and muscle-predominant forms, and that the muscle-predominant form of EoE might cause a variety of esophageal motility disorders including achalasia.

Can Eosinophilic Esophagitis Cause Achalasia and Other Esophageal Motility Disorders?

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), a disorder identified by its esophageal mucosal features, often is associated with esophageal motility abnormalities, which are manifestations of esophageal muscle dysfunction. Those motility abnormalities sometimes normalize with treatments that reduce esophageal eosinophilia, suggesting that eosinophils can cause reversible esophageal motility disturbances, perhaps by releasing myoactive and neuroactive eosinophil products. Although achalasia uncommonly is associated with EoE as currently defined, most achalasia patients have evidence of an abnormal accumulation of eosinophils and/or their degranulation products in the esophageal muscularis propria, a location inaccessible to routine endoscopic evaluation. Achalasia is an idiopathic condition resulting from destruction of neurons in the myenteric plexus of the esophagus, and degranulating eosinophils release toxic proteins capable of destroying those neurons, thereby causing the irreversible motility abnormalities of achalasia. This report reviews data on the association of esophageal eosinophilia with achalasia and other esophageal motility abnormalities. Based on this review, we propose that EoE, like eosinophilic gastroenteritis, might have mucosal-predominant and muscle-predominant forms with different clinical manifestations. A muscle-predominant form of EoE could underlie a variety of reversible and irreversible esophageal motility disorders, including achalasia. The concept that esophageal motility abnormalities might develop from a muscle-predominant form of EoE warrants serious consideration and further investigation.

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and eosinophilic oesophagitis: What is the relationship?

Eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) are the most common causes of chronic oesophagitis and dysphagia associated with oesophageal mucosal eosinophilia. Distinguishing between the two is imperative but challenging due to overlapping clinical and histological features. A diagnosis of EoE requires clinical, histological and endoscopic correlation whereas a diagnosis of GORD is mainly clinical without the need for other investigations. Both entities may exhibit oesophageal eosinophilia at a similar level making a histological distinction between them difficult. Although the term proton-pump inhibitor responsive oesophageal eosinophilia has recently been retracted from the guidelines, a relationship between EoE and GORD still exists. This relationship is complex as they may coexist, either interacting bidirectionally or are unrelated. This review aims to outline the differences and potential relationship between the two conditions, with specific focus on histology, immunology, pathogenesis and treatment.

Esophageal squamous papillomas with focal dermal hypoplasia and eosinophilic esophagitis

Focal dermal hypoplasia (FDH) is a rare disorder of the mesodermal and ectodermal tissues. Here we present an eight-year-old female known to have FDH who presents with poor weight gain and dysphagia. She was diagnosed with multiple esophageal papillomas and eosinophilic esophagitis. She was successfully treated with argon plasma coagulation and ingested fluticasone propionate, which has not been described previously in a child.