Key clinical point: The levels of eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) may be used to track disease activity in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) patients and may aid the diagnosis of EoE in patients with challenging conditions, such as distal eosinophilia.
Major finding: The average endoscopic reference score (EREFS; 3.4 vs 0.4; P < .001) and EDN concentrations (135.8 µg/mL vs 3.2 µg/mL ; P < .001 ) were significantly higher in patients with active EoE vs control individuals. In patients with exclusive distant eosinophilia, positive (≥10 µg/mL) vs negative EDN concentrations correlated with significantly higher EREFS (3.33 vs 1.35, P < .001), which indicated a diagnosis of EoE.
Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study that included children and young adults who underwent routine endoscopy with biopsy and EDN esophageal epithelial brushings, of whom 140 had EoE and 91 were control individuals without EoE.
Disclosures: This study did not receive any external funding. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Source: Thomas J et al. Addressing diagnostic dilemmas in eosinophilic esophagitis using esophageal epithelial eosinophil-derived neurotoxin. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2023 (Dec 27). doi: 10.1002/jpn3.12054
