Erosive esophagitis (EE) is erosion of the esophageal epithelium due to chronic irritation. It can be caused by a number of factors but is primarily a result of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The main symptoms of EE are heartburn and regurgitation; other symptoms can include epigastric pain, odynophagia, dysphagia, nausea, chronic cough, dental erosion, laryngitis, and asthma. , including nonerosive esophagitis and Barrett esophagus (BE). EE occurs in approximately 30% of cases of GERD, and EE may evolve to BE in 1%-13% of cases.
Long-term management of EE focuses on relieving symptoms to allow the esophageal lining to heal, thereby reducing both acute symptoms and the risk for other complications. Management plans may incorporate lifestyle changes, such as dietary modifications and weight loss, alongside pharmacologic therapy. In extreme cases, surgery may be considered to repair a damaged esophagus and/or to prevent ongoing acid reflux. If left untreated, EE may progress, potentially leading to more serious conditions.
Here are five things to know about EE.
1. GERD is the main risk factor for EE, but not the only risk factor.
An estimated 1% of the population has EE. Risk factors other than GERD include:
Radiation therapy toxicity can cause acute or chronic EE. For individuals undergoing radiotherapy, radiation esophagitis is a relatively frequent complication. Acute esophagitis generally occurs in all patients taking radiation doses of 6000 cGy given in fractions of 1000 cGy per week. The risk is lower among patients on longer schedules and lower doses of radiotherapy.
Bacterial, viral, and fungal infections can cause EE. These include herpes, CMV, HIV, Helicobacter pylori, and Candida.
Food allergies, asthma, and eczema are associated with eosinophilic esophagitis, which disproportionately affects young men and has an estimated prevalence of 55 cases per 100,000 population.
Oral medication in pill form causes esophagitis at an estimated rate of 3.9 cases per 100,000 population per year. The mean age at diagnosis is 41.5 years. Oral bisphosphonates such as alendronate are the most common agents, along with antibiotics such as tetracycline, doxycycline, and clindamycin. There have also been reports of pill-induced esophagitis with NSAIDs, aspirin, ferrous sulfate, potassium chloride, and mexiletine.
Excessive vomiting can, in rare cases, cause esophagitis.
Certain autoimmune diseases can manifest as EE.
2. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) remain the preferred treatment for EE.
Several over-the-counter and prescription medications can be used to manage the symptoms of EE. PPIs are the preferred treatment both in the acute setting and for maintenance therapy. PPIs help to alleviate symptoms and promote healing of the esophageal lining by reducing the production of stomach acid. Options include omeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole, rabeprazole, and esomeprazole. Many patients with EE require a dose that exceeds the FDA-approved dose for GERD. For instance, a 40-mg/d dosage of omeprazole is recommended in the latest guidelines, although the FDA-approved dosage is 20 mg/d.
H2-receptor antagonists, including famotidine, cimetidine, and nizatidine, may also be prescribed to reduce stomach acid production and promote healing in patients with EE due to GERD, but these agents are considered less efficacious than PPIs for either acute or maintenance therapy.
The potassium-competitive acid blocker (PCAB) vonoprazan is the latest agent to be indicated for EE and may provide more potent acid suppression for patients. A randomized comparative trial showed noninferiority compared with lansoprazole for healing and maintenance of healing of EE. In another randomized comparative study, the investigational PCAP fexuprazan was shown to be noninferior to the PPI esomeprazole in treating EE.
Mild GERD symptoms can be controlled by traditional antacids taken after each meal and at bedtime or with short-term use of prokinetic agents, which can help reduce acid reflux by improving esophageal and stomach motility and by increasing pressure to the lower esophageal sphincter. Gastric emptying is also accelerated by prokinetic agents. Long-term use is discouraged, as it may cause serious or life-threatening complications.
In patients who do not fully respond to PPI therapy, surgical therapy may be considered. Other candidates for surgery include younger patients, those who have difficulty adhering to treatment, postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, patients with cardiac conduction defects, and those for whom the cost of treatment is prohibitive. Surgery may also be warranted if there are extraesophageal manifestations of GERD, such as enamel erosion; respiratory issues (eg, coughing, wheezing, aspiration); or ear, nose, and throat manifestations (eg, hoarseness, sore throat, otitis media). For those who have progressed to BE, surgical intervention is also indicated.
The types of surgery for patients with EE have evolved to include both transthoracic and transabdominal fundoplication. Usually, a 360° transabdominal fundoplication is performed. General anesthesia is required for laparoscopic fundoplication, in which five small incisions are used to create a new valve at the level of the esophagogastric junction by wrapping the fundus of the stomach around the esophagus.
Laparoscopic insertion of a small band known as the LINX Reflux Management System is FDA approved to augment the lower esophageal sphincter. The system creates a natural barrier to reflux by placing a band consisting of titanium beads with magnetic cores around the esophagus just above the stomach. The magnetic bond is temporarily disrupted by swallowing, allowing food and liquid to pass.
Endoscopic therapies are another treatment option for certain patients who are not considered candidates for surgery or long-term therapy. Among the types of endoscopic procedures are radiofrequency therapy, suturing/plication, and mucosal ablation/resection techniques at the gastroesophageal junction. Full-thickness endoscopic suturing is an area of interest because this technique offers significant durability of the recreated lower esophageal sphincter.