A recent case-control study (CP Witmer et al. JPGN 2018; 610-5) using the Military Health System Database examined 1410 cases of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and matched them with 2820 controls; the study period was 2008-2015.

• The authors found that early exposure to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), histamine-2 receptors (H2RAs), and antibiotics were all associated with an increased risk of developing EoE with adjusted odds ratios of 2.73, 1.64, and 1.31.
• In addition, among atopic problems, milk protein allergy had an adjusted odds ratio of 2.37 and eczema 1.97. –for developing EoE.

My take: This study does not determine whether the use of PPIs, H2RAs or antibiotics are involved in causation of EoE or whether patients with EoE simply receive these medications more frequently.  Nevertheless, the findings reinforce the idea that these medications should be used less frequently in infants.

Related blog posts:

• Time to diagnosis in EoE
• EoE Update (Dr. Seth Marcus -2018)
• Long-term Use of PPIs for EoE
• Do we still need PPI-REE?
• Nexium versus Fluticasone for EoE
• Guidelines for Eosinophilic Esophagitis
• Higher Doses of Topical Steroids for Eosinophilic Esophagitis …
• Putting in Place a Big Piece of the Eosinophilic Esophagitis …
• Eosinophilic Esophagitis Slide Set | gutsandgrowth
• MicroRNA signature for eosinophilic esophagitis | gutsandgrowth
• EoE: Drugs, Diets, Dilatation and PPI-REE

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