Predictors of Response to Proton Pump Inhibitor Therapy among Children with Significant Esophageal Eosinophilia

Objectives To determine predictors of histological response to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy among children with significant esophageal eosinophilia (SEE), defined as ≥15 eosinophils per high powered field (eos/hpf) on esophageal mucosal biopsy (EMB). Study design Response to PPI therapy among children with SEE treated with PPI who underwent repeat EMB was studied retrospectively. Response was defined as 20 eos/hpf on EMB, 29% were responders. Seven of 17 (41%) patients with abnormal pH monitoring and 5 of 11 (45%) patients with normal monitoring were responders. Conclusions Forty percent of patients with SEE demonstrated histological response to PPI therapy. None of the clinical characteristics evaluated predicted response, and response was not dependent on results of pH study. The role of PPI therapy in treating SEE warrants further prospective investigation.