TUESDAY, Nov. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Oral doses of fluticasone propionate can reduce symptoms and promote histologic remission in pediatric patients with eosinophilic esophagitis, according to the results of a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled trial published in the November issue of Gastroenterology.
Marc E. Rothenberg, M.D., Ph.D., of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center in Ohio, and colleagues randomized 36 patients, aged 3 to 18 years, who had active eosinophilic esophagitis to either 880 micrograms of fluticasone propionate or placebo twice daily for three months.
Fifty percent of patients receiving fluticasone propionate showed histologic remission, determined by peak eosinophil count in the esophageal epithelium, compared with only 9 percent in the placebo group. Fluticasone reduced eosinophil levels and reduced vomiting, a common symptom of eosinophilic esophagitis. Non-allergic and younger individuals showed the most benefit.
"With its ease of administration and favorable side-effect profile, fluticasone propionate is an attractive therapy for the treatment of patients with eosinophilic esophagitis," the authors conclude. The study results also suggest that eosinophilia can be driven by food allergens, according to an editorial by Glenn Furuta, M.D., of Children's Hospital Boston.
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