Update on the management of eosinophilic esophagitis in adult patients

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an adaptive immune T-cell-mediated type 2 inflammatory disease involving the esophagus. Major advances were made in diagnosis and therapy for EoE in the last decade. A correct diagnosis is important to guide therapy to achieve optimal treatment goals. The diagnostic algorithm eliminated the need for a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) trial, allowing for direct proceeding to disease-specific anti-inflammatory drugs if indicated. PPIs are the first line of therapy in EoE. Two topical steroids and one biologic drug, dupilumab, have been used for the treatment of EoE, with a number of novel therapeutic agents in the pipeline. Because of the chronicity of the disease and nonresponders to PPIs and topical steroids, a subgroup of patients may require long-term therapy with dupilumab. More data also became available on dietary interventions, elimination diets in adults with EoE. A least restrictive diet should be trialed first with milk or milk and wheat elimination. Importantly, EoE patients with fibrostenotic disease often do not respond well to drug therapy and require esophageal dilations. Medical therapy may need to be tailored for each patient depending on the patient’s specific comorbidities, patient preferences, and health status. This review will summarize a current approach to the treatment of adult patients with EoE.