Kaakati, Rayan

Summary The eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) Endoscopic Reference Score (EREFS) measures endoscopic severity. While a score of ≤2 has been proposed for endoscopic response, it is unknown whether achieving this threshold results in clinically important outcomes. We aimed to determine whether an EREFS response to topical steroids (tCS) is associated with a decreased need for future esophageal dilation. In this retrospective cohort study, we included patients with a new diagnosis of EoE who underwent esophageal dilation, were then treated with tCS, and had at least two follow-up endoscopies. Endoscopic response was defined as EREFS ≤2. Histological and global symptom responses were recorded. We compared patients with and without endoscopic response and calculated the number of subsequent dilations in each group. Of 113 EoE patients, 55 (49%) had endoscopic response post-tCS. Compared to endoscopic non-responders, responders were older (43.4 vs 34.4 years; p = 0.001) and had lower EREFS (4.4 ± 1.6 vs. 6.3 ± 1.5; p < 0.001) at baseline. EREFS responders required fewer dilations on their initial post-treatment endoscopy (65% vs 90%; p = 0.002) and had greater symptom (92% vs 64%; p = 0.005) and histologic responses (82% vs 24% <15 eos/hpf; p < 0.001). Over the median follow-up time of 1106 days, EREFS responders required fewer dilations than non-responders (4.5 ± 2.9 vs 6.2 ± 4.5; p = 0.03). Endoscopic responders to tCS required fewer esophageal dilations compared to non-responders. Responders also had better symptom and histologic responses. These results provide evidence that endoscopic response is associated with important clinical outcomes including a reduction in future esophageal dilations.

Summary Cannabis use is becoming increasingly common, both for recreational and medical purposes. However, there is a paucity of data regarding cannabis use in the context of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). We aimed to determine the impact of cannabis use on presentation and treatment response in EoE. To this end, we conducted a retrospective cohort study at a large academic medical center of newly diagnosed EoE patients age ≥ 12 years. Self-reported cannabis use status, baseline characteristics, and treatment response to topical corticosteroids and dietary therapy data were extracted. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were used to compare cannabis users and non-users at time of EoE diagnosis and to assess treatment response. Of 983 EoE patients, 80 reported using cannabis, with the majority reporting daily use and administration by inhalation. Baseline symptoms and peak eosinophil count were similar between cannabis users and non-users; cannabis users were less likely to have baseline endoscopic findings of exudates, edema, and stricture, and lower total Endoscopic Reference Score. On multivariable analysis, younger age, male sex, non-White race, and psychiatric diagnosis were independently associated with history of cannabis use at EoE presentation and stricture was independently associated with cannabis non-use. Post-treatment symptom and histologic responses were similar between cannabis users and non-users though there was a higher odds of post-treatment endoscopic inflammatory features with cannabis use. In conclusion, despite presenting with milder initial endoscopic findings, cannabis users exhibited greater inflammatory findings after treatment, highlighting a potential negative influence of cannabis use on EoE management.