Eosinophilic Esophagitis (or EoE) is an inflammatory condition of the esophagus (AKA, swallowing tube). This condition often leads to swallowing difficulty (dysphagia) and food impaction. With food impaction, a person could be enjoying some food and while trying to swallow the food it gets stuck. This can lead to a very difficult situation that is NOT treated with the famous Heimlich maneuver.
With food impaction the food is stuck in the swallowing tube NOT the airway. Often times they need to go the ER and then a Gastroenterologist or ‘GI doctor’ is called to perform a scope and remove the impacted food.
For some people the swallowing difficulty builds up over weeks or months and for others it happens ‘all of a sudden.’ When the GI doctor does the procedure they take biopsies that can show elevated Eosinophils. This is where the allergy doctor gets involved.
The Eosinophil is a type of cell that is commonly involved in allergic reactions to foods and environmental triggers. Currently, there are many research trials evaluating new therapies for EoE and our office has been a part of many of these. Right now we are doing a study with a steroid called Fluticasone and another study with a drug called Dupilumab (see the article referenced below).
Eosinophilic Esophagitis Treatment
The treatment for EoE is varied. Some people do well with a specific diet and their allergy doctor can help with this. Others do well with Acid Reflux medicines and some people need more medicines like steroids to help.
If you or someone you know has EoE and wants to be seen in our clinic or to participate in research please call our office.
In data presented at UEG, investigators find post-dupilumab transcriptome closely resembles the transcriptome of a healthy control group. https://www.hcplive.com/view/dupilumab-eosinophilic-esophagitis