Oesophagitis

Question 1

What are the common types of oesophagitis?

Answer 1

a. Reflux
b. Infectious (in pts who are immunocompromised)
c. Eosinophilic
d. Radiation and chemoradiation
e. Chemical: direct ingestion of meds or agents
f. Medication induced

Question 2

Pathophysiology of reflux oesophagitis

Answer 2

• Gastric contents are regurgitated into oesophagus
• Persistent reflux results in damage to oesophagus: gastric acid, pepsin and bile irritate the squamous epithelium leading to inflammation

Question 3

Pathophysiology of infectious oesophagitis

Answer 3

• Most common in immunosuppressed host leads to overgrowth or opportunistic infection
• Can be:
  Fungal (candida)
  Viral (herpes)
  TB oesophagitis

Question 4

Pathophysiology of medication induced oesophagitis

Answer 4

Main drugs: Abx, KCl, NSAIDs, quinidine, alendronate

Question 5

Pathophysiology of eosinophilic oesophagitis

Answer 5

• mostly unknown pathology but characterised by corrugated oesophagus with fine concentric mucosal rings
• inflammation due to release of histamine