Seasonal exacerbation of esophageal eosinophilia in children with eosinophilic esophagitis and allergic rhinitis.

BACKGROUND: Evidence supports a possible link between eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and environmental aeroallergens, which can manifest as seasonal exacerbation of esophageal eosinophilia. Few studies have examined this link in pediatric patients with EoE. OBJECTIVE: To identify the proportion of patients with seasonal induced esophageal eosinophilia. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted of all patients diagnosed with EoE at the authors' institution. Demographic data were collected by chart review. Seasonal variation or flare was defined as a change from fewer than to at least 15 eosinophils per high-power field and a minimum of a 2-fold increase in eosinophil count between 2 consecutive biopsy specimens in different seasons without dietary or medication modifications. RESULTS: Of the 1,180 patients with EoE, 160 (14%) were suspected of having aeroallergen-associated triggers by history. Of these 160 patients, 32 (20%) had biopsy examination-confirmed variation of EoE triggered by aeroallergens. Most of these patients were boys (84%), all had a history or examination consistent with allergic rhinitis, and most had a history of asthma (75%). Thirty-two subjects had obvious seasonal variation, 22 of whom also had known food-induced symptoms. CONCLUSION: Children with EoE and allergic rhinitis might have exacerbations in their esophageal eosinophilia during certain seasons depending on the specific aeroallergens to which they are sensitized. Identification of environmental allergens to sensitized patients is important and can guide therapy.

Identification of causative foods in children with eosinophilic esophagitis treated with an elimination diet.

BACKGROUND: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic inflammatory disease with isolated eosinophils in the esophagus predominantly triggered by foods. The optimal testing to identify inciting foods remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the effectiveness of allergy testing-directed diets in patients with EoE. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all children with EoE seen at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia between 2000 and 2011 identified 941 patients with EoE. Skin prick tests (SPTs) and atopy patch tests (APTs) were conducted, and predictive values were calculated. IgE-mediated food reactions were also identified. A food was considered to cause EoE if its elimination led to resolution of esophageal eosinophilia or reintroduction led to reoccurrence of EoE. The effectiveness of the various elimination diets was compared with targeted food antigen elimination. RESULTS: Definitive foods causing EoE were identified, with milk, egg, wheat, and soy as the most common foods in 319 patients. IgE-mediated reactions (urticaria and anaphylaxis) were seen in 15%. The negative predictive value for the combination of SPTs and APTs averaged 92%, with the exception of milk at 44%, and the positive predictive value averaged 44%. An empiric 6-food elimination diet or removal of positive foods on allergy testing (SPTs/APTs) both had a histologic success rate of 53%. Removal of foods identified on SPTs/APTs plus empiric elimination of milk leads to resolution in 77% of patients. CONCLUSION: An elimination diet based on SPT/APT results leads to resolution of esophageal eosinophilia in a similar proportion of patients as empiric removal of foods but required that fewer foods be removed. These observations suggest that both methods are acceptable options.

Severe malnutrition resulting from use of rice milk in food elimination diets for atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Alternatives to cow's milk and soy milk are often necessary for children with food allergies. Although hydrolyzed and elemental formulas are appropriate replacements, other milk products such as rice and almond milk are insufficient protein sources for children under 2 years of age. A chart review on three patients treated for protein malnutrition in association with multiple diagnosed food allergies that resulted in refractory eczema revealed adverse outcomes that resulted from elimination diets. The use of rice milk resulted in hypoalbuminemia and poor weight gain in all cases, and multiple secondary infections in one patient. These cases illustrate the need for careful nutritional guidance in the management of food allergy, as well as the importance of cautious use and interpretation of testing for food allergies in the absence of a clear clinical history of reaction.

14 years of eosinophilic esophagitis: clinical features and prognosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the natural history of treated and untreated eosinophilic esophagitis (EE) and examine the presenting symptoms of EE. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective and prospective chart review of all patients diagnosed with EE at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. EE was defined as greater than 20 eosinophils per high power field after treatment with reflux medications. RESULTS: We identified 620 patients in our database in the last 14 years and 330 patients with greater than 1 year of follow-up for analysis. The number of new EE patients has increased on an annual basis. Of the patients presenting with EE, 68% were younger than 6 years old. Reflux symptoms and feeding issues/failure to thrive were the most common presenting symptoms for EE. Eleven patients had resolution of all of their food allergies and 33 patients had resolutions of some of their food allergies. No patients have progression of EE into other gastrointestinal disorders. CONCLUSIONS: EE is a chronic disease with less than 10% of the population developing tolerance to their food allergies. EE does not progress into other gastrointestinal diseases.

Nutritional management of eosinophilic esophagitis.

Eosinophilic esophagitis has been increasingly described in pediatric and adult literature. Several pediatric studies have indicated that food allergies are responsible for more than 90% of pediatric cases. There are three different dietary approaches to the management of eosinophilic esophagitis: (1) the elemental diet, (2) the removal of foods based on allergy testing, and (3) the removal of the foods that most commonly cause eosinophilic esophagitis. This article discusses the nutritional risks and benefits of each approach.