Quantity and Distribution of Eosinophils in Esophageal Specimens of Adults: An Iranian Population-Based Study

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Eosinophils are normally found in different parts of the gastrointestinal tract and with less prevalence in the esophagus. Eosinophilic infiltration is increased as part of inflammatory reactions in various diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the count and distribution of eosinophils in esophageal specimens obtained for different causes. METHODS: Endoscopy and pathology reports of esophageal specimens in Shahid Beheshti University related hospitals, Tehran, Iran, were extracted from 2016 to 2019. The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), malignancy, eosinophilic esophagitis, and asymptomatic patients were determined as the percentages of total resection and biopsy specimens. Each group was calculated and randomly selected according to the inclusion criteria. All data were analyzed statistically using SPSS software. RESULTS: A total of 258 biopsy and resection specimens were evaluated in this study. Fourty three cases (16.7%) diagnosed as normal esophageal mucosa , 42 cases (16.3%) as non-specific esophagitis, 155 cases (60.1%) diagnosed as gastroesophageal reflux disease, 4 cases (1.6%) showed malignancy and other diagnoses were recorded for 14 cases (5.4%). The numbers of eosinophils in the epithelium and lamina propria in the normal group were 0.1±0.5 and 2.08±2.33, respectively. The eosinophil count in different groups and its relation to different histopathologic findings were diverse. CONCLUSION: The number of eosinophils within the lamina propria was significantly higher than those found within other layers. . The highest mean eosinophil count was observed in the epithelium and the lamina propria of cases diagnosed as GERD.