A new grading assessment of eosinophilic esophagitis using red dichromatic imaging: a pilot study

Gastrointest Endosc. 2024 Aug;100(2):300-304. doi: 10.1016/j.gie.2024.02.007. Epub 2024 Feb 16.

Abstract

Background and aims: The endoscopic reference score using white-light imaging (WLI) is utilized for objectively evaluating the severity of findings in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis. A novel image-enhanced endoscopy technique, red dichromatic imaging (RDI), can visualize deeper vessels in the GI tract, which may assess edema more precisely than WLI.

Methods: A total of 21 consecutive patients with eosinophilic esophagitis were prospectively evaluated. Patients were categorized according to 3 grades based on the visibility of vessels with RDI. Clinical features, such as peak eosinophil counts and presence of symptoms, were reviewed.

Results: There were 10 patients with RDI Grade 0/1 and 11 patients with RDI Grade 2. Peak eosinophil counts and the prevalence of heartburn were significantly higher in patients with RDI Grade 2 than in patients with RDI Grade 0/1.

Conclusions: The severity of eosinophilic infiltration could be predicted more precisely using RDI than by evaluations with WLI.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Eosinophilic Esophagitis* / diagnostic imaging
  • Eosinophilic Esophagitis* / pathology
  • Eosinophils / pathology
  • Esophagoscopy / methods
  • Esophagus / diagnostic imaging
  • Esophagus / pathology
  • Female
  • Heartburn / etiology
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement / methods
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pilot Projects
  • Prospective Studies
  • Severity of Illness Index*
  • Young Adult