Adjusting Treatment and Quality of Life in EoE

In this episode, ‘Adjusting Treatment and Quality of Life in EoE,’ the panelists explore how clinicians can approach treatment modification when eosinophilic esophagitis is no longer adequately controlled and how quality-of-life considerations can inform long-term management. The expert faculty first discuss the importance of determining why a patient has lost disease control, including whether treatment adherence, changes in dosing, insurance barriers, or other factors may be contributing to loss of histologic response.

When a change in therapy is needed, the panelists emphasize returning to a patient-centered approach and reassessing both disease characteristics and individual treatment priorities. They discuss how symptoms, endoscopic and histologic findings, fibrostenotic features, and prior treatment response can help determine whether to optimize the current approach or consider another treatment option. The panel also highlights the importance of revisiting patient preferences over time, recognizing that lifestyle, priorities, and willingness to pursue different therapies may change throughout the course of a chronic disease.

The discussion then broadens to quality of life and its role in long-term EoE management. The panelists examine how symptoms and adaptive behaviors can affect eating, social activities, travel, work, and emotional well-being, while treatment costs, medication access, and the burden of repeated endoscopies can create additional challenges. Throughout the conversation, the expert faculty emphasize shared decision-making and the value of selecting therapies that not only achieve disease control but also remain practical and sustainable for the individual patient. By regularly reassessing both clinical response and the patient's experience, clinicians can personalize long-term EoE management as needs evolve.

The next episode in this series, ‘Strategies to Improve Treatment Adherence in EoE Care,’ features the panelists discussing how shared decision-making, patient education, and consideration of lifestyle and treatment preferences can support adherence. They highlight practical strategies for helping patients select and sustain an EoE treatment approach that works for them.