Eosinophilic oesophagitis and coeliac disease: is it just a casual association?

• Published in: Gut 2007-07, Vol.56 (7), p.1029-1030
• Main Authors: Verzegnassi, F, Bua, J, De Angelis, P, Dall’Oglio, L, Di Leo, G, Ventura, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Asthma; Celiac disease; Celiac Disease - complications; Child; Childrens health; Diet; Dysphagia; Endoscopy; Eosinophilia - complications; Esophagitis - complications; Esophagoscopy; Female; Food; Food allergies; Gluten; Glutens - administration & dosage; Humans; Immunoglobulins; Incidental Findings; Laboratories; Letters; Male; Patients
• ISSN: 0017-5749; 1468-3288
• DOI: 10.1136/gut.2006.117986

[...]she tested positive for EMAs and tTG, duodenal biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of CD (Marsch 3a atrophy). [...]among paediatric patients, a large proportion of cases seem to be associated with food allergies and to respond to a specific elimination diet. 4 High levels of circulating eosinophilic cells and IgE are usually found in patients affected by CD, thus supporting the hypothesis of an atopic allergic reaction as a possible pathophysiological trigger. [...]EE is often associated with conditions such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, atopic dermatitis and familiar history of atopy. 1, 3 Unlike most of better-known atopic syndromes, it is usually very difficult to identify the cause leading to EE (as non-food items are often involved); therefore immune modulating therapy (topical steroids, leucotrienes) is generally preferred to avoidance strategies (elementary or elimination diets), at least in the absence of indicative prick or radioallergosorbent test.