Eating With Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE)

Eating Behavior in Patients With Eosinophilic Esophagitis.

Is there a difference in the eating process for patients with active Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) and those with inactive disease?

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) patients develop adapted eating behaviors to prevent symptoms. These patients tend to cut their food small, chew extensively, take copious liquids with meals, and avoid foods that cause symptoms. No studies to date have directly evaluated these eating behaviors in patients with EoE with observation. Furthermore, none of the investigators' current metrics for patient symptom assessment visually evaluate the eating process nor are they compared before and after treatment. As a result, it is unclear if a patient's subjective perception of their eating difficulties and improvement matches with objective measures.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 years of age and older
• Patients suspected to have Eosinophilic Esophagitis
• Patients being treated for EoE with PPI or a steriod
• EoE patients that are in remission by having less than 22 on the EEsAI questionnaire
• Controls, patients that do not have EoE or other swallowing issues

Exclusion Criteria:

• Clinical evidence of infectious process potentially contributing to dysphagia (candidiasis, CMV,herpes)
• Other cause of dysphagia identified at endoscopy (reflux esophagitis, stricture, web, ring, achalasia, esophageal neoplasm)
• EoE patients that do not eat sandwiches or feel they could not eat a sandwich.