The GerdQ questionnaire and high resolution manometry support the hypothesis that proton pump inhibitor-responsive oesophageal eosinophilia is a GERD-related phenomenon.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the relationship between proton pump inhibitor-responsive oesophageal eosinophilia (PPI-REE), eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

AIM: To compare high resolution manometry features and symptom profiles of patients with EoE, PPI-REE and GERD.

METHODS: Consecutive patients diagnosed with EoE or PPI-REE according to international criteria (presence of at least one typical symptom of oesophageal dysfunction; at least 15 eosinophils per high-power field at mid/proximal oesophagus, persistence or resolution of eosinophils after an 8-week PPI trial), and a group of patients with proven GERD and oesophageal eosinophilia, prospectively completed the GerdQ questionnaire and underwent high resolution manometry.

RESULTS: Thirty-five patients with EoE, 17 with PPI-REE and 27 with GERD were enrolled. When compared to GERD, both EoE and PPI-REE had higher rates of dysphagia (15% vs. 94% vs. 88%, P < 0.0001), patients with EoE reported heartburn and regurgitation less frequently (26% vs. 85%, and 17% vs. 74%, respectively; P < 0.001 for each and had lower GerdQ score [1 (0-6) vs. 8 (6-12), P < 0.001] than GERD patients. There was no significant difference comparing PPI-REE and GERD patients. Patients with PPI-REE had a higher prevalence of erosive oesophagitis than patients with EoE (35% vs. 9%, P = 0.04), which was similar to that of GERD (48%, P = 0.54). Patients with EoE had a lower frequency of high resolution manometry features associated with GERD than patients with PPI-REE. There was no significant difference between PPI-REE and GERD patients.

CONCLUSION: GERD, as assessed by GerdQ and high resolution manometry is common in patients with PPI-REE, which may share similar pathogenic mechanisms.