Prevalence and concordant occurrence of esophageal, gastric, duodenal, and colonic eosinophilia

The Association Between Helicobacter pylori Infection and Eosinophilic Esophagitis: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Exposure to Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been associated with reduced odds of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).

AIMS

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies in order to quantify the association between H. pylori infection and EoE, and to assess the certainty of the evidence linking both conditions.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted in MEDLINE/PUBMED, EMBASE, and SCOPUS databases (up to September 2024) to identify observational epidemiological studies that assessed the association between objectively measured H. pylori infection and EoE. The risk of study bias was assessed structurally using the ROBINS-E tool. Data were pooled using a random-effects meta-analysis. The certainty of the evidence was assessed using the GRADE approach.

RESULTS

Sixteen studies comprising 30,650 patients and 291,908 controls were included. Exposure to H. pylori was associated with a significant reduction in the odds of EoE (pooled odds ratio [OR] 0.56; 95% CI, 0.46-0.70; I2 50%) [low-certainty evidence]. The protective effect of H. pylori was stronger in case-control studies (OR 0.49; 95% CI, 0.35-0.69) than in cohort studies (OR 0.76; 95% CI, 0.58-0.98) and was statistically significant in retrospective studies (OR 0.57; 95% CI, 0.45-0.72) and studies with high or very high risk of bias (OR 0.52; 95% CI, 0.42-0.64), but not in prospective studies (OR 0.56; 95% CI, 0.27-1.18) or those with moderate to low risk of bias (OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.69-1.21).

CONCLUSIONS

The association between H. pylori and EoE is mainly supported by retrospective studies with a high risk of bias. Further well-designed studies are needed.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO number: CRD42024586653.

Updated joint ESPGHAN/NASPGHAN guidelines for management of Helicobacter pylori infection in children and adolescents (2023)

BACKGROUND

Evolving epidemiological data and increasing antibiotic resistance mandate an update of the European and North American Societies of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition guidelines.

METHODS

Certainty of evidence and strength of recommendations were rated by experts according to the Grading of Recommendation Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. PICO (patient population, intervention, comparator, and outcome) questions were developed and voted on by the group. Recommendations were formulated using the Evidence to Decision framework.

RESULTS

The current literature supports many of the previous recommendations and several new recommendations. Invasive testing with strain antimicrobial susceptibility analysis is recommended for the diagnosis and selection of eradication therapy for H. pylori infection. Molecular methods are acceptable for detection of infection and of antibiotic resistance in gastric biopsy specimens. Reliable, noninvasive tests can be used as a screening method for children with history of gastric cancer in a first-degree relative. When investigating causes of chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura, testing for H. pylori is no longer recommended. When investigating other diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, or eosinophilic esophagitis, specific diagnostic biopsies for H. pylori infection are not indicated. However, if H. pylori is an incidental finding, treatment may be considered after discussing the risks and benefits. Treatment should be based on antibiotic antimicrobial susceptibility testing and, if unavailable, regimens containing clarithromycin should be avoided.

CONCLUSIONS

Due to decreasing prevalence of infection, increasing challenges with antibiotic resistance, and emerging evidence regarding complications of infection, clinicians must be aware of these recommended changes to appropriately manage H. pylori infection and its clinical sequelae in children.

Challenging assumptions about the demographics of eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases: A systematic review

Background

The demographic characteristics of patients with eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGIDs) are poorly understood. Population-based assessments of EGID demographics may indicate health disparities in diagnosis.

Objectives

We aimed to characterize the demographic distribution of EGIDs and evaluate the potential for bias in reporting patient characteristics.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review, extracting data on age, sex, gender, race, ethnicity, body mass index, insurance, and urban/rural residence on EGID patients and the source population. Differences in proportions were assessed by chi-square tests. Demographic reporting was compared to recent guidelines.

Results

Among 50 studies that met inclusion/exclusion criteria, 12 reported ≥1 demographic feature in both EGID and source populations. Except for age and sex or gender, demographics were rarely described (race = 4, ethnicity = 1, insurance = 1) or were not described (body mass index, urban/rural residence). A higher proportion of male subjects was observed for EoE or esophageal eosinophilia relative to the source population, but no difference in gender or sex distribution was observed for other EGIDs. "Sex" and "gender" were used interchangeably, and frequently only the male proportion was reported. Reporting of race and ethnicity was inconsistent with guidelines.

Conclusion

Current data support a male predominance for EoE only. Evidence was insufficient to support enrichment of EGIDs in any particular racial, ethnic, or other demographic group. Population-based studies presenting demographics on both cases and source populations are needed. Implementation of guidelines for more inclusive reporting of demographic characteristics is crucial to prevent disparities in timely diagnosis and management of patients with EGIDs.

Eosinophilic Gastritis and Enteritis Are Increased in Families With Eosinophilic Esophagitis

INTRODUCTION

There are limited data on the familial risk of distal eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGIDs) in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). We analyzed the risk of eosinophilic gastritis/gastroenteritis (EG/EGE) and eosinophilic colitis (EC) as forms of distal EGIDs using International Disease Classification-9/10 codes in subjects with EoE and their relatives.

METHODS

The Utah Population Database is a resource that links genealogy information and medical records in Utah. We identified EGIDs in probands and their first-degree (FDRs), second-degree (SDRs), and third-degree (TDRs) relatives in the Utah Population Database. Relative risk and 95% confidence intervals were estimated. All individuals with inflammatory bowel disorder were eliminated to avoid misdiagnosis with EGIDs.

RESULTS

We included 8,455 subjects with EoE, 396 with EG/EGE, and 172 with EC. Probands with EoE were at increased risk of EG/EGE and EC. Risks of EG/EGE were increased among FDRs and SDRs of probands with EoE , even without concomitant EoE in the relatives. Increased risk of EG/EGE in FDRs and SDRs was also present for EoE probands without EG/EGE or EC. We observed no isolated familial aggregation of EG/EGE after excluding cases with comorbid EoE. EC probands without EoE were at increased risk of EG/EGE, but no evidence of familial risk of EC was observed.

DISCUSSION

The relative risk of EG/EGE is significant among relatives of patients with EoE, suggesting that shared genetic factors exist among these EGIDs. EG/EGE and EC showed limited familial clustering, although sample sizes were small.

Evaluating Eosinophilic Colitis as a Unique Disease Using Colonic Molecular Profiles: A Multi-Site Study

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Colonic eosinophilia, an enigmatic finding often referred to as eosinophilic colitis (EoC), is a poorly understood condition. Whether EoC is a distinct disease or a colonic manifestation of eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGIDs) or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is undetermined.

METHODS

Subjects with EoC (n = 27) and controls (normal [NL, n = 20], Crohn's disease [CD, n = 14]) were enrolled across sites associated with the Consortium of Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disease Researchers. EoC was diagnosed as colonic eosinophilia (ascending ≥100, descending ≥85, sigmoid ≥65 eosinophils/high-power field) with related symptoms. Colon biopsies were subjected to RNA sequencing. Associations between gene expression and histologic features were analyzed with Spearman correlation; operational pathways and cellular constituents were computationally derived.

RESULTS

We identified 987 differentially expressed genes (EoC transcriptome) between EoC and NL (>1.5-fold change, P < .05). Colonic eosinophil count correlated with 31% of EoC transcriptome, most notably with CCL11 and CLC (r = 0.78 and 0.77, P < .0001). Among EoC and other EGIDs, there was minimal transcriptomic overlap and minimal evidence of a strong allergic type 2 immune response in EoC compared with other EGIDs. Decreased cell cycle and increased apoptosis in EoC compared with NL were identified by functional enrichment analysis and immunostaining using Ki-67 and cleaved caspase-3. Pericryptal circumferential eosinophil collars were associated with the EoC transcriptome (P < .001). EoC transcriptome-based scores were reversible with disease remission and differentiated EoC from IBD, even after controlling for colonic eosinophil levels (P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

We established EoC transcriptomic profiles, identified mechanistic pathways, and integrated findings with parallel IBD and EGID data. These findings establish EoC as a distinct disease compared with other EGIDs and IBD, thereby providing a basis for improving diagnosis and treatment.

Recurrent abdominal pain, peritoneal effusion, and eosinophilia in a boy aged 17 years

A boy, aged 17 years, was admitted again due to abdominal pain, diarrhea, and eosinophilia for 3 years, which worsened for 3 days. Three years ago, the boy suffered from abdominal pain and diarrhea after eating yogurt; color Doppler ultrasound showed a large amount of peritoneal effusion, and routine blood test, bone marrow cell morphology, and ascites histological examination showed a large number of eosinophils. Three days ago, he was admitted again due to abdominal pain and diarrhea. The gastrointestinal endoscopy showed eosinophil infiltration in the angle of stomach. The boy was diagnosed with eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease (eosinophilic gastroenteritis). He was improved after the treatment with glucocorticoids and dietary avoidance, and no recurrence was observed during the one-year follow-up. It is concluded that for children who attend the hospital due to gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea, if there is an increase in peripheral blood eosinophils, it is necessary to consider the possibility of eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease, and eosinophil infiltration and abnormal eosinophil count in gastrointestinal tissue based on endoscopic biopsy may be the key to diagnosis.