Researchers have determined the threshold for a new measure of early scarring in the oesophagus of children with eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE), which allows immediate intervention during endoscopy to halt further damage and prevent food from getting stuck. Their findings were published in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
EoE is a chronic immune-mediated disorder of the oesophagus that affects adults and children with a prevalence of 0.5 to 1 per 1000. Left untreated, chronic inflammation promotes scarring of the oesophagus, and the development of oesophageal rings and stricture, which interferes with passage of solid food and can cause impaction (when food is stuck in the oesophagus and cannot dislodge).
The researchers used the Endoscopic Functional Luminal Impedance Probe (EndoFLIP) in the study to measure the “distensibility index,” which is a functional measure of how much force is required to stretch open the oesophagus. Previously, the extent of scar tissue in the oesophagus could only be evaluated visually during endoscopy, making it challenging to detect the early changes and intervene before the damage becomes more extensive.
“This is a gamechanger in how we care for kids with EoE,” said senior author Joshua Wechsler, MD, MSCI. “Now, if distensibility is low, we can dilate the oesophagus during the same procedure, and because we can pinpoint exactly where the scarring is, our intervention is more targeted and takes much less time. We are seeing improvements in symptoms, which is incredibly exciting.”
Source: Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
