Skin tests and measurement of serum levels of immunoglobulin E do not accurately identify foods for elimination from the diets of patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). We investigated whether an esophageal prick test, in which the esophageal mucosa is challenged by local injection of allergen extracts, could identify individuals with esophageal sensitization. During endoscopy, 6 allergens were injected in the esophagus of 8 patients with EoE and 3 patients without EoE (controls). A second endoscopy was performed after 24 hours to evaluate delayed responses. Five of the 8 patients with EoE had evidence for an acute response (luminal obstruction and mucosal blanching); 2 other patients had a delayed wheal or flare reaction. No responses were observed in controls. We conclude that esophageal mucosal food allergen injections induce acute and/or delayed responses in patients with EoE but not controls. The esophageal prick test deserves further exploration because it may guide elimination diets.

皮肤测试和免疫球蛋白E血清水平的测量不能准确地识别出从嗜酸性食管炎（EoE）患者的饮食中消除的食物。我们调查了通过局部注射变应原提取物来挑战食管粘膜的食管穿刺试验是否可以识别出具有食道致敏作用的个体。内窥镜检查期间，在8例EoE患者和3例非EoE患者（对照）的食道中注射了6种过敏原。24小时后进行第二次内窥镜检查以评估延迟反应。8例EoE患者中有5例具有急性反应（腔阻塞和粘膜发白）的证据。另外2例患者出现了延迟的吹气或耀斑反应。在对照中未观察到反应。我们得出的结论是，食管粘膜食物过敏原注射可诱发EoE患者的急性和/或延迟反应，但不能引起对照。食管点刺试验值得进一步探讨，因为它可以指导消除饮食。