What Happens When Topical Steroids Are Stopped in Eosinophilic Esophagitis

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A recent retrospective study (T Greuter et al. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2019; 17: 419-28) shows that patients with eosinophilic esophagitis who continued to take swallowed topical corticosteroids (STC) did much better than patients who did not.

Using the Swiss EoE database, the authors analyzed 229 patients with a mean age of 39 years at diagnosis.  Median followup was 5 years.  The authors initiated STC, almost all received fluticasone, at 1 mg BID for 2-4 weeks followed by maintenance treatment indefinitely.

Key findings:

  • There was frequent discontinuation of STC by patients, such that patients were actually taking STC at only 41% of visits.
  • Higher proportions of patients taking STCs were doing well compared to those not taking STCs:
    • clinical remission was 31% compared to 4.5% respectively (P<.001),
    • endoscopic remission was 49% compared to 18% respectively (P<.001)
    • histologic remission was 45% vs 10% respectively (P<.001)
    • complete remission was 16% vs 1% respectively (P<.001)
  • No dysplasia or mucosal atrophy was detected.  Esophageal candidiasis was observed in 2.7% of visits in patients taking STC

My take: This study shows that patients who maintained STC therapy had better esophageal outcomes than patients who stopped their treatment.  What is not known is the optimal long-term dose.

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Pictures from “Old Rag” Hike, Shenandoah National Park