Eosinophilic esophagitis in adults: an update on medical management

Management of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) centers around the 3 Ds: diet, drug therapy, and dilation. Unfortunately, there is not a consistent relationship between symptom relief and resolution of mucosal eosinophilia. Elemental diets are very successful in children, but poorly tolerated by adults. The 6-food elimination diet is more attractive to adults, especially for those individuals with multiple food allergies. Steroids are the preferred anti-eosinophil drug for EoE. Oral prednisone is infrequently used because of side effects. Topical swallowed preparations (fluticasone, budesonide) are preferred for acute and possibly maintenance therapy. Relapses off steroids are frequent and dysphagia does not predictably improve. Esophageal dilation is key treatment for patients with the fibrostenotic phenotype of EoE. Long-term symptom relief for 1-2 years is common. Post-procedure chest pain is to be expected but perforation is very rare. A suggested algorithm for the treatment of EoE based on endoscopic phenotypes is outlined.