Journal of the Chinese Medical Association
Volume 71, Issue 7 , Pages 362-364, July 2008

Eosinophilic Esophagitis in an Asymptomatic Chinese

Division of Gastroenterology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, and National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.

Received 1 October 2007; accepted 22 February 2008.

Article Outline

Eosinophilic esophagitis is a growing problem in adults in Western countries. It is characterized by nausea, vomiting, dysphagia, food impaction, epigastralgia, heart burn and chest pain. Histologic survey is the most potent diagnostic tool. The diagnostic hallmark is the presence of more than 20 eosinophils per high-powered field on esophageal specimen and the absence of mucosal eosinophilia in the stomach. We herein report an asymptomatic Chinese male with eosinophilic esophagitis, which to the best of our knowledge is the first reported case in Asia. The unusual feature of the current case was the lack of symptoms. This case confirms that a dense infiltration of esophageal eosinophils can occur asymptomatically.

Key Words:  Asia , asymptomatic , eosinophilic esophagitis

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PII: S1726-4901(08)70140-0

doi:10.1016/S1726-4901(08)70140-0

Journal of the Chinese Medical Association
Volume 71, Issue 7 , Pages 362-364, July 2008

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