Gaurav Ghosh, MD: New Patch Test for EoE

A new atopy patch test could be useful in identifying hypersensitivity triggers for patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).

In a new poster presented at the annual American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) 2020 conference, researchers found type IV allergy skin testing can be used to identify food additives and aeroallergens, in which avoidance of these allergens with diet/lifestyle modifications could lead to clinical, endoscopic, and histologic improvement of EoE in a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) refractory population.

In the study, the investigators conducted a retrospective analysis of 18 adult patients with EoE who underwent type IV allergy patch testing after not responding to PPI therapy for 8 weeks.

The investigators found younger men with an allergic background (66.7%) presenting with symptoms of dysphagia (66.7%), food impactions (33.3%), and/or heartburn (50%) were more likely to be included in the cohort.

The most commonly positive allergens found in the study were Fragrance Mix 1 (including cinnamyl, 25%, cinnamic aldehyde, 25%, gold sodium thiosulfate, 18.8%, carmine, 18.8%, and balsam of peru, 12.5%.

In an interview with HCPLive®, Gaurav Ghosh, MD, resident physician, New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, explained how the study could ultimately improve care for patients suffering from EoE who do not have much luck treated with PPI.