Eosinophilic Esophagitis Is a Late Manifestation of the Allergic March

J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2018 Sep-Oct;6(5):1528-1533. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2018.05.010. Epub 2018 Jun 25.

Abstract

Background: The allergic march describes the natural history of allergic conditions as they develop during childhood. Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic allergic inflammatory disease that can be triggered by specific foods. Despite its allergic pathophysiology, the epidemiologic relationship between EoE and established members of the allergic march is unknown.

Objective: We sought to determine whether EoE meets epidemiologic criteria for being considered a member of the allergic march.

Methods: Using a primary care birth cohort of 130,435 children, we determined the natural histories of atopic dermatitis (AD), IgE-mediated food allergy (IgE-FA), asthma, EoE, and allergic rhinitis (AR) in individual patients. We then performed case-control analyses to establish the extent that existing allergic conditions influence the rate of subsequent EoE diagnosis.

Results: A total of 139 children developed EoE during the observation period (prevalence of 0.11%). The peak age of EoE diagnosis was 2.6 years, as compared with 0.3 years, 1 year, 1.1 years, and 2.1 years for AD, IgE-FA, asthma, and AR, respectively. The presence of AD (hazard ratio [HR] 3.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.2-4.6), IgE-FA (HR 9.1, 95% CI 6.5-12.6), and asthma (HR 1.9, 95% CI 1.3-2.7) was independently and cumulatively associated with subsequent EoE diagnosis. The presence of AR was associated with subsequent EoE diagnosis (HR 2.8, 95% CI 2.0-3.9), and the presence of EoE was associated with subsequent AR diagnosis (HR 2.5, 95% CI 1.7-3.5).

Conclusions: Allergic comorbidities are positively associated with EoE diagnosis. Together, our findings suggest that EoE is a late manifestation of the allergic march.

Keywords: Allergic march; Allergic rhinitis; Asthma; Atopic dermatitis; Eosinophilic esophagitis; Food allergy.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Asthma / epidemiology*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cohort Studies
  • Comorbidity
  • Dermatitis, Atopic / epidemiology*
  • Eosinophilic Esophagitis / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Food Hypersensitivity / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin E / metabolism
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Medical History Taking
  • Rhinitis, Allergic / epidemiology*
  • United States / epidemiology

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin E