Eosinophilic esophagitis in the transition from childhood to adulthood

Published ahead of print, a study in the Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics reports the natural history of eosinophilic esophagitis in the transition from childhood to adulthood.

Dr Menard-Katcher and colleagues performed a cross-sectional study of eosinophilic esophagitis patients from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia eosinophilic esophagitis registry.

The team determined the prevalence of eosinophilic esophagitis symptoms, and impact of eosinophilic esophagitis on quality of life among adults diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis during childhood.

Patients 18 years diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis during childhood were administered validated dysphagia and Quality of Life questionnaires.

Ongoing eosinophilic esophagitis treatments were ascertained.

The team of doctors identified a total of 140 eosinophilic esophagitis patients 18 years, of which 53 completed all questions.

Only 6 subjects had positive or indeterminate dysphagia scores.

76% were following allergy directed diets

Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics

The researchers found that however, of 47 patients with negative scores, 18 reported ongoing difficulty swallowing.

The mean PAGI-QOL score was 4.58/5.

The researchers investigated that the the dietary dimension score was 3.7/5.

Current pharmacological eosinophilic esophagitis treatments were topical steroids, and interleukin-5 antagonists.

Additionally, 26 out of 53 were on PPI therapy, and 76% were following allergy directed diets.

The team found that the majority of young adults diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis during childhood continue to require pharmacological treatment and/or dietary modification for eosinophilic esophagitis.

Dr Menard-Katcher's team concludes "A substantial proportion of this population experiences ongoing swallowing difficulties that a standard dysphagia questionnaire fails to capture."

"Dietary quality of life, but not total quality of life, appears to be adversely affected."

"These data suggest that eosinophilic esophagitis diagnosed during childhood remains a significant medical issue during early adulthood, and that better eosinophilic esophagitis symptom measurement instruments are needed."