Welcome to visit Zhongnan Medical Journal Press Series journal website!

Home Articles Vol 38,2025 No.11 Detail

Exfoliative esophagitis associated with the effects of multiple medications: a case report

Published on Nov. 29, 2025Total Views: 99 times Total Downloads: 25 times Download Mobile

Author: CHEN Kun 1# LYU Fei 2# DING Xiangwu 2

Affiliation: 1. School of Medicine, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China 2. Department of Gastroenterology, Wuhan Fourth Hospital, Wuhan 430030, China

Keywords: Polypharmacy Exfoliative esophagitis Gastrointestinal tract Complication Medication management

DOI: 10.12173/j.issn.1004-4337.202507063

Reference: Chen K, Lyu F, Ding XW. Exfoliative esophagitis associated with the effects of multiple medications: a case report[J]. Journal of Mathematical Medicine, 2025, 38(11): 868-872. DOI: 10.12173/j.issn.1004-4337.202507063[Article in Chinese]

  • Abstract
  • Full-text
  • References
Abstract

Patients with chronic diseases often need to maintain vital signs and receive treatment of chronic diseases through polypharmacy. However, the gastrointestinal toxicities associated with polypharmacy have not received adequate attention. This paper reports a 55-year-old female patient who experienced retrosternal pain accompanied by a sensation of difficulty swallowing after taking aspirin enteric-coated tablets, eszopiclone, etc. over the past year. Following comprehensive endoscopic examination, multiple areas of mucosal loss were identified in the middle and lower esophagus. Pathological examination confirmed a diagnosis of esophagitis dissecans superficialis. After treatment with fasting, fluid replacement, acid suppression, and gastric mucosal protection, the symptoms gradually improved. At the six-month follow-up, no similar symptoms were observed. Patients with chronic disease who have taken multiple drugs for a long-term need to pay attention to the potential risk of gastrointestinal injury, and prevent medication-related complications. It also suggests that clinicians should provide more refined medication management strategies for such patients with chronic diseases.

Full-text
Please download the PDF version to read the full text: download
References

1.Chen X, Giles J, Yao Y, et al. The path to healthy ageing in China: a Peking University-Lancet Commission[J]. Lancet, 2022, 400(10367):1967-2006. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01546-X.

2.Kim J, Parish AL. Polypharmacy and medication management in older adults[J]. Nurs Clin North Am, 2017, 52(3): 457-468. DOI: 10.1016/j.cnur.2017.04.007.

3.Vane JR, Botting RM. Anti-inflammatory drugs and their mechanism of action[J]. Inflamm Res, 1998, 47 Suppl 2: S78-S87. DOI: 10.1007/s000110050284.

4.Bindu S, Mazumder S, Bandyopadhyay U. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and organ damage: a current perspective[J]. Biochem Pharmacol, 2020, 180: 114147. DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114147.

5.Keller CL, Jones NT, Abadie RB, et al. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-, potassium supplement-, bisphosphonate-, and doxycycline-mediated peptic ulcer effects: a narrative review[J]. Cureus, 2024, 16(1): e51894. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.51894.

6.Saleem F, Sharma A. Drug-induced esophagitis[M]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, 2025. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31747225/

7.Perkins AC, Wilson CG, Blackshaw PE, et al. Impaired oesophageal transit of capsule versus tablet formulations in the elderly[J]. Gut, 1994, 35(10): 1363-1367. DOI: 10.1136/gut.35.10.1363.

8.Zhou Y, Dai Y, Lu L, et al. Dabigatran-induced esophagitis: a case report[J]. Medicine (Baltimore), 2020, 99(17): e19890. DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000019890.

9.Scheppach W, Meesmann M. Exfoliative esophagitis while taking dabigatran[J]. Dtsch Med Wochenschr, 2015, 140(7): 515-518. DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-101313.

10.Evans KT, Roberts GM. Where do all the tablets go?[J]. Lancet, 1976, 2(7997): 1237-1239. DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(76)91158-2.

11.尚如敏, 吕飞, 丁祥武. 表层剥脱性食管炎的研究进展[J]. 国际消化病杂志, 2024, 44(5): 279-282. [Shang RM, Lyu F, Ding XW. Research progress of superficial exfoliative esophagitis[J]. International Journal of Digestive Diseases, 2024, 44(5): 279-282.] DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1673-534X.2024.05.001.

12.Purdy JK, Appelman HD, McKenna BJ. Sloughing esophagitis is associated with chronic debilitation and medications that injure the esophageal mucosa[J]. Mod Pathol, 2012, 25(5): 767-775. DOI: 10.1038/modpathol.2011.204.

13.Zaher EA, Patel P, Zaher D. Esophagitis dissecans superficialis: a case report[J]. Cureus, 2023, 15(8): e44372. DOI: 10.7759/cureus.44372.

14.Fiani E, Guisset F, Fontanges Q, et al. Esophagitis dissecans superficialis: a case series of 7 patients and review of the literature[J]. Acta Gastroenterol Belg, 2017, 80(3): 371-375. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29560665/

15.Salehi AM, Salehi H, Hasanzarrini M. Esophagitis dissecans superficialis after COVID-19; a case report[J]. Middle East J Dig Dis, 2022, 14(3): 346-348. DOI: 10.34172/mejdd.2022.293.

16.张倩, 李沭, 李朋梅. 美国老年医学会老年人潜在不适当用药Beers标准2023版解读[J]. 中国全科医学, 2023, 26(35): 4372-4381. [Zhang Q, Li S, Li PM. Interpretation of the 2023 AGS Beers criteria: potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults[J]. Chinese General Practice, 2023, 26(35): 4372-4381.] DOI: 10.12114/j.issn.1007-9572.2023.0336.

17.刘子祺, 张帆, 李成敏, 等. 2023年STOPP/START标准解读[J]. 中南药学, 2024, 22(12): 3394-3402. [Liu ZQ, Zhang F, Li CM, et al. Interpretation of the 2023 STOPP/START criteria[J]. Central South Pharmacy, 2024, 22(12): 3394-3402.] DOI: 10.7539/j.issn.1672-2981.2024.12.041.

18.Seger D, Barker K, McNaughton C. Misuse of the Naranjo adverse drug reaction probability scale in toxicology[J]. Clin Toxicol (Phila), 2013, 51(6): 461-466. DOI: 10.3109/15563650.2013.811588.

19.Chang WT. Medication regimen complexity index[J]. Sr Care Pharm, 2020, 35(2): 50-51. DOI: 10.4140/TCP.n.2020.50.

20.中华人民共和国国家卫生健康委员会. 质子泵抑制剂临床应用指导原则(2020年版)[J]. 中国实用乡村医生杂志, 2021, 28 (1): 1-9. [National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China. Clinical application guidelines for proton pump inhibitors (2020 edition)[J]. Chinese Practical Journal of Rural Doctor, 2021, 28 (1): 1-9.] DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1672-7185.2021.01.001.

Popular papers
Last 6 months