Eosinophilic Esophagitis in Adult Patients with Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms: a Cross-Sectional Study in Northeastern Egypt

Background and Aim of Study: Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic immune/antigen-mediated esophageal disease characterized clinically by symptoms related to easophageal dysfunction and histologically by eosinophilpredominant inflammation. This study was performed to determine the prevelance of eosinophilic Esophagitis in Adult patients with Upper Gastrointestinal symptoms in Ismailia Governate, Egypt. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study recruited all patients with Upper Gastrointestinal Symptoms omitted for endoscopic evaluation at Suez Canal University Hospital, Endoscopic Unit, after giving written consent. Esophageal biopsy samples were obtained and histological evaluation for the presence of eosinophils was performed for every patient. EoE was defined with at least 15 eosinophils were present in a single high-power field. Results: Out of 354 adult patients with Upper Gastrointestinal symptoms underwent upper endoscopy, only 35 cases (10.2%) diagnosed as EoE based on presence of 15 eosinophils/HPF in esophageal biopsies. Conclusion: Patients with persistent symptoms of severe GERD, who do or do not respond to PPI should undergo UGI endoscopy with multiple biopsies to exclude EoE.