Clinical features of eosinophilic esophagitis: Differences between Asian and Western populations

• Published in: Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology Vol. 30; no. S1; pp. 71 - 77
• Main Authors: Ishimura, Norihisa, Shimura, Shino, Jiao, Dijin, Mikami, Hironobu, Okimoto, Eiko, Uno, Goichi, Aimi, Masahito, Oshima, Naoki, Ishihara, Shunji, Kinoshita, Yoshikazu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2015
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Asia - epidemiology; Asian populations; Deglutition Disorders; endoscopic findings; eosinophilic esophagitis; Eosinophilic Esophagitis - diagnosis; Eosinophilic Esophagitis - epidemiology; Eosinophilic Esophagitis - pathology; Eosinophilic Esophagitis - physiopathology; epidemiology; esophageal eosinophilia; Esophagoscopy; Europe - epidemiology; Female; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Prevalence; Sex Factors; Young Adult; Asia; Europe; epidemiology; esophageal eosinophilia; endoscopic findings; Asian populations; eosinophilic esophagitis
• ISSN: 0815-9319; 1440-1746
• DOI: 10.1111/jgh.12746

The prevalence and incidence of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) have been rapidly increasing in Western countries. It is thought to be more common among Caucasians than other racial or ethnic groups, but epidemiological studies have not been fully evaluated in Asian populations, and its clinical manifestation is rarely documented. In this review, recent reports regarding EoE in Asian countries have been collected, and differences in the clinical features, including symptoms and endoscopic findings, between Asian and Western populations have been evaluated. In Asia, EoE is still much less prevalent than in Western countries. Baseline values for average age, male/female ratio, and personal history of allergic disease were comparable to those in Western populations. Predominant symptoms were dysphagia, and food impaction was extremely rare among Asian patients. Although the frequency of abnormal endoscopic findings varies among studies, over 90% of patients with EoE have shown abnormal findings such as linear furrow, which is the most common findings, in recent prospective studies in Asia. There are few reports regarding the treatment of EoE and no prospective studies evaluating drugs or elimination diet in patient with EoE have been reported in Asia. Overall, EoE had similar clinical characteristics in Asian populations. Because the incidence of EoE could increase in the future with the increase in allergic disorders in Asian countries, large‐scale, nationwide prospective studies should be performed to more fully understand the epidemiology and pathophysiology of EoE in Asian populations.