Eosinophilic esophagitis: an emerging clinicopathologic entity.

Eosinophilic esophagitis is a clinicopathologic disease characterized by 1) persistent upper intestinal symptoms despite the patient's use of gastric acid blockade and 2) large numbers of eosinophils in the squamous epithelium of the esophagus. This disease is increasing in frequency and the exact etiologic agent(s) remain elusive. The major importance of identifying eosinophilic esophagitis is that affected patients are receiving fundoplication for persistent symptoms when, in fact, corticosteroids or diet restriction is the treatment of choice.