Lymphocytic Oesophagitis Preliminary Ultrastructural Observations.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Lymphocytic oesophagitis (LyE) is a newly described entity characterized by a high number of intraepithelial lymphocytes/ high power field (≥40 CD3+IELs/HPF) in the oesophageal epithelium. The aim of the study was to investigate possible ultrastructural changes taking place in LyE at the transmission electron microscopic (TEM) level.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Oesopageal biopsies from seven patients were investigated: four were consecutive patients with LyE, one with reflux oesopagitis, one with eosinophilic oesopagitis (EoE) and one with histologically normal squamous epithelium.

RESULTS: In LyE, marked intercellular oedema (spongiosis) and a gamut of regressive changes were found in squamous cells, ranging from cytoplasmic oedema and vacuolization, to total cell disintegration. IELs also showed regressive changes ranging from ballooned, oedematous cytoplasm to signs of intracytoplasmatic disintegration.

CONCLUSION: Besides hampered cell nutrition conveyed by spongiosis, putative noxious molecules contained in the intercellular spongiotic oedema might account for the dramatic TEM alterations found in LyE. The present findings provide, for the first time, "inside information" on the ultrastructural alterations taking place in LyE, both in squamous cells and in IELs.