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Age associated with sensitivity type in pediatric patients with EoE

Aeroallergen sensitivity increased with age while food sensitivity decreased in pediatric patients with eosinophilic esophagitis, according to recent study results.

S. Nicole Chadha, MD, of Carolina Asthma and Allergy Center, Charlotte, N.C., and colleagues conducted a retrospective study of 211 pediatric patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE; median age, 7 years; 72% male) at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn. Skin-prick testing (SPT), atopy patch testing (APT) and a history of associated atopic diseases were used to determine aeroallergen and food sensitization profiles.

S. Nicole Chadha

Vomiting (54%), gastroesophageal reflux (53%) and abdominal pain (45%) were the most common presenting symptoms. Greater aeroallergen sensitization was experienced by older patients with EoE, with tree pollen (41%), weed pollen (38%) and dust mite (36%) the most common allergens. SPT and APT demonstrated greater food sensitivity in younger patients. Peanut (31%), egg (30%), soy (25%), pea (19%) and almond (19%) were the most common foods identified by SPT, while potato (26%), pork (26%) and wheat (24%) were the most common foods found through APT.

“Comorbid atopic disease [25.6%] was common,” the researchers reported. “Patients with atopic dermatitis did not show significantly greater sensitization to foods by SPT or APT compared with patients without atopic dermatitis.”

“APT is useful to identify additional food allergens not detected by SPT,” the researchers concluded. “A history of atopic dermatitis does not appear to be associated with nonspecific positivity by SPT or APT,” the researchers concluded.

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.