Eosinophilic Esophagitis: an Important Comorbid Condition of Asthma?

AbstractEosinophilic esophagitis and asthma are frequently found as comorbid conditions in children and adults along with other manifestations of atopic diathesis. These two conditions have similar T helper 2 responses-driven pathophysiology and share common management strategies such as using systemic corticosteroids and targeted anti-cytokine biologic therapies. Review of the literature finds that asthma is often a comorbid condition in eosinophilic esophagitis in both children and adults; however, the EoE-asthma relationship remains poorly characterized mechanistically and clinically. EoE and asthma commonly share several comorbid conditions such as allergic rhinitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease; therefore, addressing these comorbid conditions has the potential to improve and/or maintain control in both diseases. Similar to asthma, patients with EoE frequently demonstrate elevations in serum markers of atopy, including serum IgE levels, peripheral eosinophil counts, and T helper 2-related cytokines. Gastroesophageal reflux disease is thought to affect asthma through microaspirations, airway hyperresponsiveness, and increased vagal tone. The understanding of the relationship between gastroesophageal reflux and EoE is still evolving but seems to be bidirectional and interactive. In terms of treatment, similar classes of medications have been used in both EoE and asthma. In both children and adults, EoE remission can be achieved by food trigger avoidance and use of cor...

Source: Clinical Reviews in Allergy and Immunology - February 18, 2018 Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research