Nongastroesophageal reflux disease-related infectious, inflammatory and injurious disorders of the esophagus

Abstract

Purpose of review: To review recently published studies presenting novel and relevant information on some esophageal infectious, inflammatory and injurious diseases.

Recent findings: In the treatment of Candida esophagitis, fluconazole remains the treatment of choice, but clinical failures indicate new therapeutic opportunities, like two new echinocandins, micafungin and anidulafungin. Eosinophilic esophagitis is an increasingly recognized entity. New therapeutic insights come from a six-food elimination diet in children and from fluticasone propionate in adults; humanized monoclonal IgG antibody anti-interlukin-5, mepolizumab, has been shown to decrease eosinophilia and ameliorate symptoms. There has been some advance in microscopic characterization of lymphocytic esophagitis. Esophagitis is found to be present in 67% of patients with pemphigo vulgaris, in 32.3% of patients with systemic sclerosis and to be associated with thoracic neoplasias. In the case of caustic ingestion, endoscopic ultrasound with miniprobes has proven not to be better than videoendoscopy. Recent evidence shows that systemic steroids might even be harmful. Mitomycin C applied on fresh wounds is currently being evaluated. Stenting of the stricture has been proposed for contrasting esophageal remodeling.

Summary: These recent findings, together with a better understanding of diseases such as eosinophilic or lymphocytic esophagitis, allow new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.