Eosinophilic Esophagitis - Close Follow-Up was Associated with Less Strictures
Close Follow-Up in EoE: Less Strictures, Better Outcomes
Key Findings
In this large, retrospective observational study including 159 patients with 309 follow-up visits the authors found out that patients that had close follow-up had less incidence of esophageal strictures than those with longer interval follow-up.
Interestingly, there was no difference in the incidence of clinical, endoscopic or histologic disease severity between both groups.
The Big Questions
Why do patients with closer follow-up have less strictures?
Maybe because they undergo more frequent EGD? Or do these patients keep closer follow-up appointments because they really are more symptomatic (due to stricture)?
The retrospective nature of this study does not allow us to clearly answer these questions.
Bottom Line
Nonetheless, it makes sense to keep a close eye on patients with EoE as this disease is chronic and results in complications and decreased quality of life.
Study Reference:
Close follow‐up is associated with fewer stricture formation and results in earlier detection of histological relapse in the long‐term management of eosinophilic esophagitis - Bon - United European Gastroenterology Journal - Wiley Online Library