Clinical

Division of Asthma, Allergy & Immunology:
CLINICAL

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an allergic inflammatory disease characterized by elevated eosinophils in the esophagus. Over the past decade, the disorder has been increasingly diagnosed in both children and adults; symptoms can include acid reflux, difficulty swallowing, chest pain, and, in children, poor growth and difficulty gaining weight. In response, the Division of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology established an interdisciplinary EoE patient clinic during FY2013 that is continuing to grow in FY2014. Bridging the clinical and research interests of Allergy’s Scott Commins and Pediatric Gastroenterology’s Barrett Barnes, the clinic provides comprehensive care for EoE patients, including specialized nursing and nutrition support.

The increase in food allergy has been clearly seen in relation to three different syndromes: anaphylactic reactions to peanut; EoE; and delayed anaphylaxis to red meat in patients–primarily adults–with IgE to alpha-gal. In the next year, we plan to combine the evaluation of these diseases into a Food Allergy Institute.