Table 1

Summary of histological and gross features of mucosal eosinophilia

EoE-active (untreated), n=14EoE-remission (treated), n=8GORD, n=4Normal oesophagus, n=15p Values untreated EoE versus treated, GORD, normal
Eosinophil peak count (±SEM)
Proximal30.1±6.00.4±0.30.3±0.20p<0.001
Distal45.4±8.900.8±0.40p<0.001
Eosinophil average of five random fields (±SEM)
Proximal17.4±3.90.1±0.10.3±0.20p<0.001
Distal28.9±6.000.3±0.20p<0.001
EPX Staining Index*
Proximal34.2±5.34.4±2.302.8±2.8p<0.001
Distal41.1±1.96.5±3.511.3±6.05.9±3.3p<0.001
Endoscopic evidence of exudate (% of total patients)6 (43%)2 (25%)1 (25%)0p<0.001
Microabscess† (% of total patients)11 (79%)000p<0.001
Superficial layering‡ (% of total patients)9 (64%)000p<0.001

  • Embedded Image

  • ↵* Panels show representative images of immunohistochemical staining for EPX (red reaction product) in tissue sections from subjects with normal oesophagus, untreated EoE, treated EoE in remission and GORD that were used to generate the EPX Staining Index in this study.

  • ↵† Microabscess: four or more eosinophils adjacent to each other in the superficial epithelia.

  • ↵‡ Superficial layering: eosinophils within the luminal surface of the oesophageal epithelia.

  • EoE, eosinophilic oesophagitis; EPX, eosinophil peroxidase; GORD, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.