SFED works for EoE!

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A recent study confirms that an empiric ‘6-food elimination diet’ (SFED) works in adults  with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) as well as it has been shown to work in kids (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2013; 131: 797-804)).  Thanks to Seth Marcus for this reference.

This Spanish study recruited 67 consecutive adult patients (17-60 years) who were treated with an exclusive diet which eliminated milk (avoided goat’s milk too), wheat/cereals (avoided rice and corn too), eggs, fish/seafood, legumes/peanuts, and soy for 6 weeks.  Subsequent rechallenge followed with repeated endoscopies every 6 weeks.  A food was considered a trigger for EoE if eosinophilic infiltrate ≥ 15 Eos/hpf after reintroduction.

Prior to reintroduction, 73% (n=49) responded to SFED with peak Eos < 15/hpf. Among responders, 37 patients achieved a complete response with Eos 0-5/hpf.  Subsquently rechallenges were instituted and 42 patients completed this part of the study. A single food was identified in 36%, 2 food triggers in 31%, the remainder had at least 3 food triggers.  Cow’s milk was the most common food trigger, in 62%, followed by wheat (29%), eggs (26%), and legumes (24%).

Allergy testing (ImmunoCap IgE-based testing, and skin prick testing) showed no concordance with food reintroduction challenge results.  All patients maintained on avoidance of offending foods maintained remission for up to 3 years.

In the general scheme of food reintroduction, it is interesting that the authors often tested for wheat and milk first.  Also, the Table 1 listed numerous characteristics of responders and nonresponders and none of these had a significant predictive effect.  This table listed symptoms including dysphagia, vomiting and pain, caliber of esophagus, mucosal appearance, atopic history, atopic family history, and eosinophil counts.

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