T Shoda et al. Gastroenterol 2022; 162: 1635-1642. Open Access: Evaluating Eosinophilic Colitis as a Unique Disease Using Colonic Molecular Profiles: A Multi-Site Study

Methods: Subjects with EoC (n = 27) and controls (normal [NL, n = 20], Crohn’s disease [CD, n = 14]) were enrolled across sites associated with the Consortium of Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disease Researchers. EoC was diagnosed as colonic eosinophilia (ascending ≥100, descending ≥85, sigmoid ≥65 eosinophils/high-power field) with related symptoms. Colon biopsies were subjected to RNA sequencing.

Key findings:

• Among EoC and other EGIDs, there was minimal transcriptomic overlap and minimal evidence of a strong allergic type 2 immune response in EoC compared with other EGIDs
• EoC transcriptome–based scores were reversible with disease remission and differentiated EoC from IBD, even after controlling for colonic eosinophil levels (P < .0001)

My take: The study indicates that eosinophilic colitis is likely unrelated to other eosinophilic GI disease and is likely unrelated to inflammatory bowel disease.

Related blog posts:

• How Many Eosinophils Indicate Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis or Colitis?
• Vedolizumab -Could it Work for Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis?
• Anti-TNF Therapy for Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis