Histological Presentation of Eosinophilic Esophagitis: Simply a Magic Number?

Background: Eosinophilic esophagitis is an increasing condition in industrialized countries. The etiology is still somewhat unclear. It was thought that it can be part of eosinophilic gastroenteritis but nowadays seen as a separate entity and thus more often the esophagus is the only part of the gastrointestinal tract that is affected. Immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory treatment is available and can lead to symptom relief and remission.

Summary and key messages: In this article, the value and practicability of the histological criteria used for this disease are discussed. Also, the situation regarding the requirements for grading in clinical studies and routine settings is discussed.