Diverse Eosinophilic Esophagitis Symptoms and Care Teams

Dupilumab (Dupixent) has showed sustained benefit in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and symptom burden in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), per new phase 3 assessments.

The new data presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) 2021 Virtual Sessions this week gives hope to possibly nearing the first biologic treatment indicated for the rare disease in the US.

In an interview with HCPLive, study author Evan Dellon, MD, MPH, of the Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, UNC School of Medicine, discussed the burdensome chronic effects of EoE on its varied patient population.

Symptoms can evolve from dysphagia in the young patient population, to esophageal scarring and inflammation which burdens patient swallowing at a younger age.

Though pediatric patients are a particular concern for Dellon and colleagues due to their burdens of pain, regurgitation, food processing failure, and their inability to distinguish between vomiting and EoE symptoms, it’s important for frontline clinicians to remember they’re not the lone at-risk group.

“I think that’s an important point to make—not only for patients that are having dysphagia, but also for providers,” Dellon explained. “Just because you’re seeing a 60-70 year old person who doesn’t fit the young profile, it could still be there.”

Dellon also discussed the very diverse EoE care team, which include caregivers from any of allergy, gastroenterology, pediatrics, primary care, nutrition, diet, and pathology. In terms of prescribing a therapy such as dupilumab for EoE, most practices will have the luxury of choice.

“I think allergists are familiar with this medication for other atopic medications, but GI doctors are quite familiar with administering biologics from the inflammatory bowel disease space,” Dellon said.