S1872 Acid-Induced Injury Does Not Enhance Local Changes of Eosinophilic Esophagitis: An Analysis of 11 Histologic Findings

Introduction: Refractory GERD describes those patients who continue to have symptoms despite treatment with proton-pump inhibitors (PPI)1. The participation of eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) in the refractory GERD has been scarcely studied. When both disorders are simultaneously present, the clinical, endoscopic and histologic findings may be nonspecific and as such the overlap of refractory GERD and EE has been matter of debate. Aim: To study the occurrence of EE in patients with refractory GERD. Methods: Upper digestive endoscopies (UDE) were performed, obtaining mucosal biopsies of distal, middle and lower esophagus and stomach (body and antrum) in 97 adult consecutive patients. Erosive esophagitis was classified according to Los Angeles classification. Seventy three (75.3%) were female, with mean age of 44,4 (+ 9.09) of years. Eighty seven patients (89.6%) were submitted to esophageal manometry and pHmetry. The patients (82, 84%) have been receiving high doses of PPI (40 mg omeprazol b.i.d.) for at least 6 weeks. The main complaint was heartburn and regurgitation. The diagnosis of GERD was based on UDE and pHmetry. The diagnosis of EE was based on the presence of ≥20 eosinophils per high power field (eo/hpf) in the esophageal biopsies. Results: UDE was normal in 78 patients (81%). Erosive esophagitis (grade A in 9, B in 2 and C in 2 of LA) was found in 13 (13%) patients. All the others 6 (6%) were classified as non-erosive esophagitis (NERD). One patient ( 1 %) presented > 20 eo/hpf. In 25 (27.8%) patients the pHmetry was altered during PPI treatment (80 mg/day). The manometry showed hypomotility before the treatment for EE and, inespecific motor disturbances after the decreasing of eosinophils post the appropriate treatment. Conclusions: There was a very low prevalence of EE in patients with refractory GERD. (1) Spechler SNat Clin Pract Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2007