Long-term Outcome of Asymptomatic Esophageal Eosinophilia.

Abstract

: Asymptomatic esophageal eosinophilia (aEE), characterized by eosinophil infiltration in the esophagus without clinical symptoms, has been reported as a precursor of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Nevertheless, no report exists on the long-term clinical course of the disease. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the long-term clinical course of aEE over 5 years, including the symptomatic conversion rate and the effect of treatments. : We reviewed 28 patients with aEE who had been followed up for over 5 years with endoscopic monitoring. The basal characteristics of patients were compared with those of 58 patients diagnosed with EoE during the same period. Patients' clinicopathological findings were collected and examined. : No significant differences in basal characteristics and histopathological findings were observed between the patients with aEE and those with EoE. The median follow-up duration was 64 months. Among the 28 patients with aEE, seven were treated with proton pump inhibitor or potassium-competitive acid blocker and the remaining 21 opted for follow-up with no medication. Among the treated patients, six (85.7%) exhibited endoscopic and pathologic improvements. Among the cases followed up without medication, the findings worsened in two (9.5%), improved spontaneously in seven (33.3%), and were unchanged in 12 (57.1%), and three (14.3%) developed symptoms at a mean time of 40 months. Symptoms developed in cases where endoscopic and pathologic findings remained unchanged or worsened during follow-up. : Some patients with aEE had improved findings without treatment, whereas others developed symptoms, emphasizing the importance of long-term monitoring and individualized treatment decisions.