Pope, ElenaMansour, MarkBerseneva, MaríaLiy-Wong, CarmenSalas, JulioFuentes, IgnaciaYubero, Maria JoaoPalisson, FrancisMartinez, AnnaMellerio, JemimaLara-Corrales, IreneYang, AnesMurrell, DedeeTorres-Pradilla, MauricioLucky, Anne2021-08-062021-08-062020-09Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition , 2020 september, vol. 71, n° 3: 310–314https://doi.org/10.1097/MPG.0000000000002820http://hdl.handle.net/11447/4244Background: Esophageal strictures are the common gastrointestinal complications in patients with epidermolysis bullosa (EB) requiring dilation. There is limited information on the best type of intervention, outcomes, and predictors for re-stenosis. Objectives: We aimed to investigate the frequency, clinical presentation of esophageal strictures in EB patients, and to ascertain the predictors of re-stenosis. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, multicenter cohort study involving 7 specialized, international EB centers on patients who were 0 to 50 years of age. Descriptive statistics and hazard risks for re-stenosis were calculated. Results: We identified 125 patients with 497 esophageal stricture episodes over a mean period of observation of 17 (standard deviation [SD]¼ 11.91) years. Dilations were attempted in 90.74% of episodes, using guided fluoroscopy 45.23%, retrograde endoscopy 33.04%, and antegrade endoscopy 19.07%. Successful dilation was accomplished in 99.33% of attempts. Patients experienced a median of 2 (interquartile range [IQR]: 1–7) stricture episodes with a median interval between dilations of 7 (IQR: 4–12) months. Predictors for re-stenosis included: number of strictures (2 vs 1 stricture:x2¼ 4.293,P¼ 0.038, hazard ratio [HR]¼ 1.294 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.014–1.652 and 3 vs 1 stricture:x2¼ 7.986, P¼ 0.005, HR¼ 1.785 [95% CI: 1.194, 2.667]) and a long (1 cm) segment stricture (x2¼ 4.599, P¼ 0.032, HR¼ 1.347 (95% CI: 1.026– 1.769). Complications were more common with the endoscopic approach (8/86, antegrade endoscopy; 2 /149, retrograde endoscopy vs 2/204, fluoroscopy; x2¼ 17.39, P-value <0.000). Conclusions: We found excellent dilation outcomes irrespective of the dilation procedure; however, with higher complications in the endoscopic approach. Long (>1 cm) segment involvement and multiple locations were predictive of stricture reoccurrence.enEpidermolysis bullosaEsophageal dilationEsophageal stricturesArticle