Odynophagia and Retrosternal Pain Are Common in Eosinophilic Esophagitis and Associated with an Increased Overall Symptom Severity

Background and Aims Dysphagia is the hallmark symptom in eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). However, data are limited regarding the overall prevalence and potential implications of atypical symptoms like odynophagia and retrosternal pain. Methods Patients enrolled into the Swiss EoE cohort study (SEECS) were analyzed regarding the presence of odynophagia and retrosternal pain. Demographics, other EoE-related symptoms, histologic and endoscopic activity were compared between EoE-patients with vs. without odynophagia and/or retrosternal pain. Results 474 patients (75.2% male) were analyzed. In their individual course of disease 110 (23.2%) patients stated to have ever experienced odynophagia and 64 (13.5%) retrosternal pain independent of food intake, 24 (5%) patients complained about both symptoms. Patients with odynophagia consistently scored higher in symptom severity ( p