Nothing is Working to Treat My Eosinophilic Esophagitis. Here is What To Do Next

1 Big Thing

Dupilumab offers new hope for people with tough-to-treat eosinophilic esophagitis.

Why It Matters

For those with eosinophilic esophagitis not helped by standard treatment, dupilumab may provide relief.

Between the Lines

Dupilumab showed big improvements in studies, even when other treatments didn't work (Dellon et al., 2022).

Go Deeper

What Is Eosinophilic Esophagitis?

Eosinophilic esophagitis, or EoE, is a condition where the throat gets swollen and can make it hard to swallow.

This happens because of a build-up of white blood cells in the throat (Muir & Falk, 2021).

If left untreated, it can get worse and make swallowing even more difficult.

How Does Dupilumab Help?

Dupilumab helps by targeting certain parts of the immune system that cause the swelling (Dellon et al., 2022).

In studies, people felt better and had fewer white blood cells in their throat after using dupilumab.

Many saw improvements as soon as 12 weeks after starting the treatment.

Is Dupilumab Safe?

Dupilumab has been shown to be safe, with most side effects being mild, like light skin reactions where the shot is given (Chehade et al., 2024).

Serious side effects were rare in studies.

It's used in kids and adults, showing it is helpful for many ages (Lee & Dellon, 2024).

Do I Need to Stop Other Treatments?

No, you usually keep taking other medicines, like PPIs, when you start dupilumab (Dellon et al., 2022).

PPIs can still help even if you start dupilumab.

Your doctor will decide based on what is best for you.

Is Dupilumab Good for Kids?

Yes, dupilumab is proven to help kids as young as 1 year with EoE (Chehade et al., 2024).

In studies, kids saw big improvements in their symptoms and their ability to swallow.

This means dupilumab can help the whole family feel better.

What If First-Line Treatments Fail?

If other treatments don’t work, you may need something stronger like dupilumab (Strauss & Falk, 2022).

First, doctors check if treatments are used correctly before trying new options.

For tough cases, dupilumab offers another way to find relief.

Closing

Health concerns, no matter how minor they may seem, can severely impact your overall well-being and quality of life. If you're experiencing symptoms or have concerns about a specific health condition, remember that timely and expert advice is key. Navigating healthcare can be challenging, but finding the right primary care physician shouldn't be. Whether you're seeking medical advice, a prescription or care, immediate access to expert primary care is just a button away. Don't leave your health to chance - consult a Well Revolution primary care provider today for peace of mind and professional care.

References

1. Dellon ES, Rothenberg ME, Collins MH, et al. Dupilumab in Adults and Adolescents with Eosinophilic Esophagitis. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2022;387(25):2317-2330. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2205982.

2. Muir A, Falk GW. Eosinophilic Esophagitis: A Review. JAMA. 2021;326(13):1310-1318. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.14920.

3. Chehade M, Dellon ES, Spergel JM, et al. Dupilumab for Eosinophilic Esophagitis in Patients 1 to 11 Years of Age. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2024;390(24):2239-2251. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa2312282.

4. Lee CJ, Dellon ES. Real-World Efficacy of Dupilumab in Severe, Treatment-Refractory, and Fibrostenotic Patients With Eosinophilic Esophagitis. Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2024;22(2):252-258. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2023.08.015.

5. Strauss AL, Falk GW. Refractory Eosinophilic Esophagitis: What to Do When the Patient Has Not Responded to Proton Pump Inhibitors, Steroids and Diet. Current Opinion in Gastroenterology. 2022;38(4):395-401. doi:10.1097/MOG.0000000000000842.