Study Status: Withdrawn
Recruit Status: Withdrawn
Study Type: Interventional
Official Title: Evaluation of the Clinical, Endoscopic and Histologic Effects of Environmental Allergy Immunotherapy in the Treatment of Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Brief Summary:
Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a disease that has increased in incidence over the past decade that affects males predominantly, and in adults, is characterized by heartburn, dysphagia, strictures and food impactions. These symptoms may require emergent endoscopic removal of foods and esophageal dilations due to remodeling causing significant impairment in quality of life. Treatment options are limited and often not well tolerated or effective. There is poor understanding of the natural history and long term prognosis. It has been associated with allergic sensitization; a high percentage of affected individuals having associated atopy and current literature demonstrates a seasonal distribution of incidence and severity of symptoms. Allergy immunotherapy (AIT) is a well established and effective treatment for allergic rhinitis and asthma which can induce tolerance to environmental allergens.
Given the efficacy of AIT and the association of aeroallergen sensitization and even seasonal variation of EoE symptoms, we hypothesized that AIT may be a treatment option for patients with EoE.