For questions about financial assistance,
call 1-844-DUPIXENT, option 1 or
click to learn more
What is Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE)?
Not actual patients.
EoE: An Everyday Burden
Eosinophilic esophagitis
(EoE) is a chronic, progressive
condition that can damage the esophagus
over time.
People with EoE have inflammation that occurs when a large number
of
immune cells (including eosinophils) build up in the esophagus. This buildup is associated with an
abnormal
response of the immune
system, known as Type 2 inflammation.
Eosinophils are part of your immune system, but too many in the esophagus can result in inflammation that drives EoE.
EoE SYMPTOMS TO WATCH FOR
EoE patients may experience some or all of the following symptoms:
Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
Food getting stuck in the esophagus (impaction)
Chest pain/heartburn even after taking proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
Choking
Vomiting
Additional symptoms to watch for in children (ages 1 to 11 years):
Stomach pain
Regurgitation
Food refusal
for Caregivers
How Some EoE Patients May Cope:
These coping strategies may temporarily reduce EoE symptoms, but can hide the underlying source of EoE.
Do you find yourself doing any of the following?
Cutting food into small bites (the size a toddler could eat)
Avoiding certain foods
Avoiding social occasions that revolve around eating
Blending food
Adding sauces or dips to food
Eating slowly, chewing excessively
Drinking water with food
Did You Know?
EoE is diagnosed using a procedure called an “endoscopy with biopsy.” A gastroenterologist (GI doctor) uses a thin tube to look into the esophagus and take tissue samples. The GI may diagnose EoE based on your symptoms, how the esophagus looks, and the presence of eosinophils in the tissue sample.
EoE symptoms can be vague and are often mistaken for GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) or a food allergy.
Find a Specialist Who Can
Treat EoE
It is important to consult a specialist like a gastroenterologist or allergist in order to diagnose and manage EoE. Learn more about the benefits of partnering with a specialist, and find one near you.
Find a Specialist
THE FIRST AND ONLY FDA-APPROVED TREATMENT OF ITS KIND FOR EoE
DUPIXENT is a breakthrough option that works differently. It targets an underlying inflammation that contributes to EoE symptoms.
LEARN HOW DUPIXENTTREATS EoE
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The most common symptoms of EoE are:
- Difficulty swallowing
- Feeling of food being stuck
- Heartburn and/or chest pain
The symptoms of EoE can often be different depending on patient age:
- Infants and toddlers might refuse food and lose weight or develop malnutrition
- Children could have trouble swallowing, may vomit, or have abdominal pain
- Teens and adults may have more difficulty swallowing as the esophagus narrows, causing food impaction
A variety of treatments are used to help manage EoE, including:
Dietary Therapy
- EoE is most commonly caused by food allergens. Eliminating certain allergens that trigger an overactive immune response may help manage EoE symptoms. Dietary strategies include elimination of certain foods and elemental diets, which should always be done in conjunction with a medical professional.
Medical Therapy
- Proton Pump Inhibitors Proton pump inhibitors are a class of medications that reduce stomach acid production and have anti-inflammatory effects. While commonly used for EoE management, PPIs are not an FDA-approved treatment for EoE.
- Swallowed Topical Corticosteroids In EoE, topical steroids are swallowed slurries that act directly on the esophagus to help dampen inflammation.
- Biologics Biologics are specialty medicines that are processed in the body differently than oral or topical medicines. In order to be effective, and to work properly, most biologics are injectable medications. They target specific proteins that contribute to the disease and can help reduce EoE symptoms.
Endoscopic Therapy
- Esophageal Dilation An endoscopic procedure using a balloon or plastic tube to stretch areas of the esophagus that became too narrow and stiff to allow normal passage of food.
Researchers are not certain about the exact cause of EoE. However, foods such as dairy, wheat, egg, soy, nuts, and seafood are recognized as the most common triggers for EoE.
If you believe you or a loved one are experiencing EoE symptoms, it’s important to speak with a gastroenterologist or an allergist. They can diagnosis EoE and create a plan to treat it.
EoE is a chronic, progressive condition that can damage the esophagus over time. People with EoE have inflammation that occurs when a large number of immune cells (including eosinophils) build up in the esophagus. Those who have EoE usually experience difficulty swallowing, food getting stuck in the esophagus, chest pain or heartburn, and other symptoms. In addition, those with EoE often find themselves cutting their food into smaller bites, avoiding certain foods, avoiding social occasions that revolve around eating, and using other coping strategies.
EoE is a lifelong inflammatory disease that can take years to diagnose accurately and get under control.1,2,3 It can take on average 5-8 years to diagnose EoE accurately.3 EoE requires a long-term management plan to help achieve and maintain control and prevent complications.1,4 There currently is no cure for EoE.