Eosinophilic esophagitis: a case report with a review of the literature

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) is an allergic inflammatory condition of the esophagus and is characterized by dense eosinophilic infiltration of the esophagus. There has been a dramatic increase in the diagnosis of EE in Western countries in recent years; however, in Japan, there are very few reports of EE. We present a rare case of EE in a 70-year-old Japanese woman, who had dysphasia for 2 years, but which worsened over a 6-month period. Laboratory examinations showed peripheral eosinophilia (1279/μl). Significant thickening of the esophageal wall was observed on computed tomography scan and many circular rings appeared when an esophagogastroduodenoscopy was carried out. From these circular rings, EE was suspected and a biopsy was then taken from the esophagus. As the histologic findings from the esophageal biopsy showed that >25 eosinophils existed per high-power field, the patient was diagnosed with EE. Oral corticosteroid (prednisolone 30 mg/day) therapy was administered and after 3 days of treatment her symptoms almost disappeared. EE needs to be considered as a differential diagnosis if patients with non-erosive reflux disease have dysphagia but do not respond to high-dose proton pump inhibitor therapy.