Noninvasive Biomarkers for Diagnosing and Monitoring Eosinophilic Esophagitis in Children and Teens

What this Trial Is About

Eosinophilic esophagitis is a chronic inflammatory digestive disease caused by eosinophil buildup in the esophagus, leading to problems with esophageal function. This condition mostly affects children and requires frequent invasive procedures like endoscopies with biopsies to diagnose and monitor treatment effectiveness. Researchers are exploring non-invasive biomarkers such as Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin EDN and the role of esophageal, salivary, and fecal microbiota to improve diagnosis and follow-up methods. The study involves pediatric patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy either for suspected eosinophilic esophagitis or for monitoring known cases. During the procedure, researchers collect blood, urine, stool, saliva, esophageal brushings, and four additional esophageal biopsies. These samples will be analyzed to measure EDN levels and other biomarkers, including cytokine profiles and metabolomic data, alongside studying the microbiota composition to understand their relationship with the disease. Participants and their parents will complete questionnaires about quality of life and symptoms on the day of endoscopy. The research team will compare the biomarker levels with the eosinophil counts in biopsies to establish correlations. The goal is to develop less invasive ways to monitor disease activity, reducing the need for repeated endoscopies. The study will last four months, during which various clinical, biological, and microbiological outcomes will be assessed to better understand and manage eosinophilic esophagitis in children.

EDN and Eosinophilic Esophagitis