Eosinophilic esophagitis: management and pharmacotherapy

Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2008 Apr;9(5):731-40. doi: 10.1517/14656566.9.5.731.

Abstract

Eosinophilic esophagitis represents the most debated disease of the last 10 years, too often speculated or overestimated and certainly well known and examined. The aim of this study was to summarize the recent therapeutic trends in order to show persistent doubts regarding several debated therapies. The study combined the most recent international literature and the authors' daily experience to define the scope of the review, with limits caused by a lack of available randomized studies between dietetic and pharmacological treatment. It was concluded that eosinophilic esophagitis is an immunoallergic disease that is generally caused by identifiable food and environmental allergens although, in a minority of cases, the etiological trigger remains undetermined. Therapy usually fights the responsible agents, but sometimes they are not resolved. A need for more pathogenetically driven treatments is invoked.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
  • Biological Products / pharmacology
  • Biological Products / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Eosinophilia / diagnosis
  • Eosinophilia / immunology
  • Eosinophilia / therapy*
  • Esophagitis / diagnosis
  • Esophagitis / immunology
  • Esophagitis / therapy*
  • Food Hypersensitivity / complications
  • Glucocorticoids / pharmacology
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • Humans

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • Biological Products
  • Glucocorticoids