Background: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) may be linked to
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in as many as 30% of
patients of EoE. The aim is to study the prevalence and
clinical presentation of Eosinophilic esophagitis among
patients with refractory GERD. Methods: This cross-sectional
study was conducted on 181 patients presented with persistent
GERD symptoms despite double dose PPI therapy for at least
8 weeks without interruption, who were referred to
gastroenterology unit of Internal Medicine Department at
Benha University Hospitals. All patients were subjected to
proper and detailed history taking and thorough clinical
examination, laboratory investigations including complete
blood count with differential leucocytic count and upper
gastrointestinal endoscopy and biopsy for histopathological
examination. Results: The mean age of the patients was
36.7±11.46 years. One hundred and three (56.9%) patients
were males and 78 (43.1%) were females. Among the studied
cases, 9 (5.0%) cases had EoE and 2 (1.1%) cases had
eosinophilic gastroenteritis. Peripheral eosinophilia was found
in 6 (66.7%) of EoE cases. EoE cases had statistically
significant higher incidence of atopy, dysphagia, food
impaction, furrows, white plaques, concentric rings and
strictures compared to refractory GERD patients without EoE
(P