• Philipp Schreiner, Lorenz Balcar, Hansjörg Schlager, Christian Madl, Alexander Ziachehabi, Markus Mader, Karin Steidl, Patrick Dinkhauser, Simon Reider, Werner Dolak, Clemens Dejaco, Hans Peter Gröchenig, and Gottfried Novacek.
• Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. philipp.schreiner@meduniwien.ac.at.
• Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. 2023 Aug 1; 135 (15-16): 406413406-413.

IntroductionEosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic immune-mediated disease of the esophagus with increasing incidence and dysphagia as the main symptom. The management of suspected or known EoE by Austrian endoscopists has not been investigated yet.MethodsA web-based survey with 13 questions about the management of EoE was sent to endoscopists via the Austrian Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (ÖGGH).ResultsA total of 222 endoscopists (74% gastroenterologists, 23% surgeons, and 2% pediatricians; 68% working in a hospital) from all 9 states participated. In patients with dysphagia but a normal appearing esophagus, 85% of respondents reported always taking biopsies; however, surgeons were less likely to obtain biopsies compared to gastroenterologists ("always" 69% vs. 90%, "sometimes" 29% vs. 10%, "never" 2% vs. 0%, p < 0.001). The approved budesonide orodispersible tablet is the preferred first-line drug used in EoE, ahead of proton pump inhibitors (PPI). Only 65% of participants monitor the patients by endoscopy and histology after 12 weeks of induction therapy, 26% do not continue maintenance therapy, and 22% monitor patients only when symptomatic.ConclusionThe vast majority of Austrian endoscopists adhere to the European and US guidelines in cases of suspected EoE. In contrast, despite the chronic disease course, a significant percentage of providers indicate not to use maintenance therapy and monitor the patients routinely.© 2023. The Author(s).

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