Allergies and Eosinophilic Esophagitis-Current Updates for the Pediatric Gastroenterologist

Characterization of a group of children with eosinophilic esophagitis in Cali, Colombia

PURPOSE

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an immunologically mediated chronic disease of the gastrointestinal tract. The objective of this study was to clinically and demographically describe a child population with EoE diagnosed in a high-complexity hospital in Cali, Colombia.

METHODS

A retrospective study was carried out. The clinical histories of patients between 0 and 18 years with clinical suspicion and a histological diagnosis of EoE were analyzed. All patients underwent an allergy study, either by measurement of specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E and/or an intraepidermal skin-prick test.

RESULTS

Thirty-five patients were included in the study, of which 21 (60%) women. The median age was 8 years (interquartile range [IQR] 5-12), and the age of onset of symptoms was 5 years (IQR 2-10). Thirty patients (85.7%) reported a history of allergic disease, with rhinitis being the most frequent (n = 25, 71.4%). Only one patient reported with food allergy mediated by IgE. The main symptoms in patients included abdominal pain (17 [48.6%]), refractory gastroesophageal reflux (16 [45.7%]), and choking (9 [25.7%]). Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was normal in 10 patients (38.5%). The median number of eosinophils in the biopsy was 42 (IQR 31-92). Allergenic sensitization was verified in 25 of 35 patients (71.4%). Of these, dust mite allergy was positive in 21 patients (84%), while the most frequent food allergy was toward cow's milk, in five patients (31.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of patients with EoE were females. The most frequent symptom was abdominal pain. Endoscopic abnormalities were also observed frequently, and the prevalence of other allergic diseases (especially rhinitis) and allergenic sensitization (especially to mites) was high.

The Challenges of Managing Multiple Food Allergies and Consequent Food Aversions

The allergic march can often result in children with one food allergy phenotype developing other allergic manifestations as they grow older. In this grand round, we describe the case of a child with a diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis at an early age, who subsequently developed IgE-mediated allergy to milk and egg. Because of the onset of allergic rhinitis, an additional complication of the teenage years was the development of pollen food syndrome, which further affected the already complex dietary management. These multiple allergies had a consequent effect on nutritional status and provoked considerable psychosocial issues, which greatly affected the patient's relationship with food. This case illustrates that for complex patients, a cohesive approach and shared decision-making are essential for diagnosis and management. Working with the patient and also the whole family, and considering how best to support them, necessitates a flexible approach. Regular follow-up is important to address changing psychosocial and dietary needs and monitor the resolution of allergies and response to pharmacotherapy. Complex patients need the input of a comprehensive multidisciplinary team, with good access to dietetic and psychological support, to optimize quality of life for these individuals and their families.

Race-specific characteristics in pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis in an urban inner-city clinic

BACKGROUND

Manifestations of pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) are varied and dictated by multiple factors. The influence of race is limited to small observational cohorts of dichotomized data (Whites vs non-Whites) or single-racial analysis.

OBJECTIVE

To better understand phenotypic variability in the manifestation and atopic sensitization of pediatric EoE, from the perspective of race.

METHODS

Retrospective observational cohort study performed at a tertiary referral center. Subjects were included if less than 21 years old, with suggestive clinical features and histopathologic (>15 eosinophils/high-power field [hpf]) confirmation of EoE. Statistical computation was performed using Stata/IC 11 on variables of interest.

RESULTS

A total of 34 subjects were included in the analysis. The median (interquartile range [IQR]) age for initial atopy was 2 (1-5) years. The median (IQR) age for EoE diagnosis was 5 (3-8) years. Age of EoE diagnosis was higher for Black or African Americans than non-Black or African Americans (P = .01). Between the racial groups, there was no difference in the total number of food sensitizations (P = .13), yet environmental allergy testing revealed that Black or African Americans were more likely to be sensitized for weeds (P = .03), dog (P = .009), and mold (P = .006). On histopathologic analysis, Black or African American subjects were found to have more prominent midesophageal eosinophilia at median 50/hpf (20-80/hpf), whereas Hispanic or LatinXs have more prominent lower esophageal eosinophilia at median 40/hpf (IQR, 20-40/hpf), compared with the other races (P = .04 and P = .04, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Black or African Americans are more likely to present at an older age, have aeroallergen sensitization, and have more prominent midesophageal eosinophilia.

Classification of patients with esophageal eosinophilia by patterns of sensitization revealed by a diagnostic assay for multiple allergen-specific IgEs

BACKGROUND

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is considered to be an immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergic disorder. Our goal was to examine IgE-mediated allergic sensitization patterns in patients with esophageal eosinophilia (EE).

METHODS

We enrolled subjects with EE who underwent evaluation with a diagnostic panel to document multiple allergen-specific IgEs. Statistically significant groups were identified by cluster analysis. We also defined allergens based on their characteristics including outdoor, indoor, plant, and animal allergens.

RESULTS

We classified patients with EE into 3 distinct groups, including cluster 1 (n = 62) who were minimally sensitized to most allergens except pollen and house dust, cluster 2 (n = 30) who were hypersensitized to outdoor and plant allergens, and cluster 3 (n = 15) who were hypersensitized to most allergens, most notably to indoor and animal allergens. Dysphagia reported among those in clusters 1, 2, and 3 at 35.5%, 46.7%, and 73.3%, respectively, (p = 0.028) and EoE endoscopic reference scores (EREFS) at 3.0, 6.0, and 8.0, respectively, (p < 0.001) differed significantly between the 3 clusters. Those in cluster 3 had a significantly higher prevalence of dysphagia (35.5% vs. 73.3%, p = 0.030), and higher EREFS with respect to rings (0.3 vs. 0.9, p = 0.003) and strictures (0.0 vs. 0.13, p = 0.011) compared to those in cluster 1.

CONCLUSIONS

IgE-mediated allergic sensitization patterns are associated with clinical features of patients with EE. Use of a diagnostic panel that detects multiple allergen-specific IgEs can help to explain the heterogeneous phenotype of this patient cohort.

Needs Assessment for Eosinophilic Esophagitis Education in School Nurses

Over the past 2 decades, eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) has become increasingly recognized as a common cause of gastrointestinal morbidity in children. A mainstay of treatment is food avoidance, which must be implemented in both the home and school settings for school-aged children. The aim of this study is to assess school nurses' familiarity with EoE with regard to food avoidance and treatment in the school setting. We conducted a 19-question online survey of 60 school nurses (elementary through high school) recruited from Dauphin, Lebanon, and Lancaster Counties in Pennsylvania. Results indicated that 62% of respondents were familiar with EoE. However, only 22% felt comfortable distinguishing between symptoms of EoE and food-dependent anaphylaxis. Almost all respondents (97%) were interested in learning more about EoE. We report significantly increased familiarity with food-dependent anaphylaxis in comparison with EoE among school nurses. There is an interest and need for increasing education on EoE.

New Perspectives in Food Allergy

The improvement of the knowledge of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the tolerance and sensitization to food antigens has recently led to a radical change in the clinical approach to food allergies. Epidemiological studies show a global increase in the prevalence of food allergy all over the world and manifestations of food allergy appear increasingly frequent also in elderly subjects. Environmental and nutritional changes have partly changed the epidemiology of allergic reactions to foods and new food allergic syndromes have emerged in recent years. The deepening of the study of the intestinal microbiota has highlighted important mechanisms of immunological adaptation of the mucosal immune system to food antigens, leading to a revolution in the concept of immunological tolerance. As a consequence, new prevention models and innovative therapeutic strategies aimed at a personalized approach to the patient affected by food allergy are emerging. This review focuses on these new perspectives and their practical implications in the management of food allergy, providing an updated view of this complex pathology.