Segmental overlap is common in eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases and impacts clinical presentation and treatment

Abstract

Little is known about the extent or importance of overlapping gastrointestinal (GI) tract involvement in eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGIDs), how presentations differ by areas of involvement, and whether overlap impacts treatments. We aimed to evaluate overlapping GI tract involvement in EGIDs and whether clinical differences existed. To do this, we assessed the EGID Partners cohort, an online patient-centered research network. Adults (≥18 years) and caregivers of children <18 years old with EoE or non-EoE EGIDs could join. Surveys were completed at enrollment, comparing patients with EoE alone, EGID without esophageal involvement ('EGID-NE'), and EGID with esophageal involvement ('EGID-WE'). Of 527 cases enrolled, 402 had EoE alone and 125 had non-EoE EGID, 57 (46%) with EGID-NE, and 68 (53%) with EGID-WE. There were 10, 18, and 9 with eosinophilic gastritis, gastroenteritis, and colitis alone, respectively; 88 had overlap. EGID-NE had a higher proportion of females (79%; P < 0.001), and family history of EoE/EGID was more common in EGID-WE (19% vs. 11% in EoE and 7% in EGID-NE; P = 0.007). Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System measures for anxiety were above general population averages and highest for EGID-WE. Treatments such as elemental formula (47% vs. 32% vs. 20%; P = 0.001), systemic steroids (33% vs. 56% vs. 14%; P < 0.001), and biologics were also more common in EGID-WE and EGID-NE. In conclusion, overlap in regions with eosinophilic infiltration is common for non-EoE EGIDs, with more than half of non-EoE EGIDs having esophageal involvement and a high proportion of multisegmental involvement. EGID-WE patients tended to have more disease burden.

Keywords: eosinophilic esophagitis; eosinophilic enteritis; eosinophilic gastritis; eosinophilic gastroenteritis; patient-centered care.

Fig. 1

Overlap of eosinophilic infiltration by anatomic locations in those with (A) esophageal involvement (EGID-WE) and (B) without esophageal involvement (EGID-NE) in the EGID Partners cohort.