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Updated: Jan 17, 2026

Author Spotlight: Investigating the Pathophysiology of Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Published on: May 10, 2024
[Distribution of eosinophilic granulocytes in the gastrointestinal tract in EGPA]
Svenja Rogalski1,2, Udo Schumacher3, Bernhard Hellmich4
1Lungenzentrum Stade, Harsefelder Str. 6, 21680, Stade, Deutschland. svenja.rogalski@web.de.
Background:
Gastrointestinal involvement is common in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) and has a poor prognosis.
Objectives:
The aim of our study was to determine the density of eosinophils in the gastrointestinal tract that should be considered pathological in patients with EGPA, and how clinically and prognostically relevant intramucosal eosinophil accumulation is in patients with EGPA.
Methods:
Forty-nine subjects were included in the study: 18 with EGPA (9 women) and as a control group 31 with other rheumatological inflammatory diseases. Two hundred and forty-four biopsies from the gastrointestinal tract of the study participants were analyzed.
Results:
Histologically, there was no significant difference in eosinophil counts between patients with EGPA and the control group; however, there was an increased density when macroscopic gastrointestinal inflammation was already present.
Conclusions:
Biopsies from macroscopically unremarkable mucosa appear to have limited diagnostic utility.
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