Clinical Characteristics of Children with Eosinophilic Esophagitis and Bulbar Duodenitis

Abstract

We describe a cohort of 33 patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and incidental duodenal bulb inflammation, termed bulbar duodenitis (BD). We conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study and recorded demographics, clinical presentation, endoscopic, and histological findings. BD was observed at the initial endoscopy in 12 cases (36%) and at a subsequent endoscopy in the remainder. Bulbar histology was usually a mix of chronic and eosinophilic inflammation. Patients were more likely to have active EoE (n = 31, 96.9%) at time of BD diagnosis. Our data indicate that the duodenal bulb of children with EoE should be carefully examined at each endoscopy and mucosal biopsies considered. Larger studies are needed to explore this association.