The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) has released an expert review and clinical practice update focusing on esophageal dysfunction caused by immune-mediated and infectious diseases.
“Many different disorders can lead to esophageal dysfunction, which is characterized by symptoms including dysphagia, odynophagia, chest pain and heartburn. These symptoms can be caused either by immune or infectious conditions and can either be localized to the esophagus or part of a larger systemic process,” co–first author Emily McGowan, MD, PhD, with the Division of Allergy and Immunology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, said in an AGA podcast.
However, without a “high index of suspicion,” these conditions can be overlooked, leading to delays in diagnosis and unnecessary…