
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Esophagitis natural history, complications and prognosis
Introduction
Overview
Overview
If left untreated, 20% of patients with esophagitis may progress to develop esophageal stricture due to excessive acid in the lower esophagus. Common complications of esophagitis include esophageal ulcer, and esophageal adenocarcinoma. Prognosis of esophagitis is generally good with appropriate treatment.
Natural History
Natural History
- If left untreated, 20% of patients with esophagitis may progress to develop esophageal stricture due to excessive acid in the lower esophagus..[1]
- Symptoms often persist for years in eosinophilic esophagitis raising suspicion of a underlying chronic inflammatory disease process.
- The inflammatory activity is proportional to the density of the eosinophilic infiltration in the esophageal tissue.
- Similar to asthma, EoE has chronic persistent eosinophilic inflammation and can eventually lead to irreversible structural changes of the esophagus which is called re-modeling of the esophagus.
- The esophageal mucosa in patients with a longstanding EoE is characterized by a loss of elasticity.
Complications
Complications
Common complications of esophagitis include:[2]
- Esophageal ulcer
- Esophageal adenocarcinoma
- Esophageal scarring / stenois resulting in progressive dysphagia
- Tears of perforation during endoscopy or retching leading to boerhaave syndrome
Prognosis
Prognosis
- Prognosis of esophagitis is generally excellent with appropriate treatment.
- The majority of people respond to non-surgical measures, with lifestyle changes and medications. However, many patients need to take medications to control their symptoms.
References
References
- ↑ Sonnenberg A, El-Serag HB (1999). “Clinical epidemiology and natural history of gastroesophageal reflux disease”. Yale J Biol Med. 72 (2–3): 81–92. PMC 2579001. PMID 10780569.
- ↑ El-Serag HB, Graham DY, Satia JA, Rabeneck L (2005). “Obesity is an independent risk factor for GERD symptoms and erosive esophagitis”. Am J Gastroenterol. 100 (6): 1243–50. doi:10.1111/j.1572-0241.2005.41703.x. PMID 15929752.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
