Shahzad Ghulamullah, Mustacchia Paul, Frieri Marianne
Nassau University Medical Center, East Meadow, NY 11554, USA.
ISRN Gastroenterol. 2011;2011:468073. doi: 10.5402/2011/468073. Epub 2010 Nov 25.
Eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) is increasingly recognized in adults. It is an inflammatory disease of the esophageal mucosa, with variable presentation, unresponsive to acid suppression therapy. The diagnosis requires histological confirmation of intense eosinophilic infiltration on esophageal biopsy specimen, however exact criteria required to make a diagnosis of EE is still being debated and a clear differentiation from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is important. Allergen elimination or anti-inflammatory therapy may be effective in such patients. The imperfect diagnostic criteria for EE mandate an understanding of the immunology and the pathophysiology of the disease. It may facilitate the introduction of novel treatment modalities in an individual unresponsive to acid suppression therapy. This paper describes basic elements of the immune-mediated injury to the esophageal mucosa and management aspects to provide a better understanding of the condition.
嗜酸性粒细胞性食管炎（EE）在成人中越来越受到认可。它是一种食管黏膜的炎症性疾病，表现多样，对抑酸治疗无反应。诊断需要食管活检标本有强烈嗜酸性粒细胞浸润的组织学证实，然而，诊断EE所需的确切标准仍在争论中，与胃食管反流病（GERD）进行明确区分很重要。消除过敏原或抗炎治疗可能对此类患者有效。EE不完善的诊断标准要求了解该疾病的免疫学和病理生理学。这可能有助于为对抑酸治疗无反应的个体引入新的治疗方式。本文描述了食管黏膜免疫介导损伤的基本要素及管理方面，以更好地理解这种情况。
