Dilated intercellular spaces in eosinophilic esophagitis.

Objectives: Dilated intercellular spaces (DIS) in the esophageal epithelium can be induced by acid and reduced by proton pump inhibitors (PPI), and are thus considered a marker of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Over the years, however, DIS have also been reported in esophagitis unrelated to GERD. Because DIS have never been formally measured in eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), we aimed at detecting and measuring DIS in EoE before and after nutritional or pharmacological therapy.