Presenter Status
Fellow
Abstract Type
Clinical Research
Primary Mentor or Principal Investigator
Rachel Chevalier
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
21-5-2026 11:00 AM
End Date
21-5-2026 12:00 PM
Abstract Text
Background:
Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an increasingly prevalent chronic antigen-mediated TH2-type immune disorder characterized by symptoms of esophageal dysfunction resulting in difficulty swallowing, food impaction, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and eventually esophageal strictures if not controlled. Currently, there are no minimally invasive tests that can screen, diagnose, or monitor patients with EoE. Patients with suspected EoE usually undergo general anesthesia for an upper endoscopy to obtain esophageal biopsies. Diagnosis is established when histological evaluation shows intraepithelial eosinophilia. Furthermore, repeated endoscopies are needed to monitor for active EoE, especially when making changes to the patient’s treatment plan. Due to this, the patient may require multiple endoscopies in a single year.
Objectives/Goal:
To evaluate whether plasma eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels reflect disease activity in pediatric patients with EoE when compared to the gold standard histological evaluation
Methods/Design:
Within our local gastroenterology biorepository, 87 participants who had plasma samples collected on day of endoscopy were identified and divided into three groups: active cases (Met EoE diagnostic criteria of > 15 eosinophils/HPF), remission (previous EoE diagnosis now with biopsies showing < 10 eosinophils/HPF), and control (no history of EoE and do not meet EoE diagnostic criteria). ELISA testing was performed on each sample. Statistical analysis was completed to determine differences between the three groups.
Results:
Plasma ECP was significantly increased in pediatric patients with active EoE compared with control individuals (median ECP 5010.82 vs. 2744.71 pg/mL, P < 0.001). However, there was no difference when active EoE patients were compared with EoE patients in remission (median ECP 3451.79 pg/mL, P = 0.22) or between those in remission and controls (P = 0.26). P-values result from Kruskal-Wallis test.
Conclusions:
This is the largest study to our knowledge which evaluated eosinophil catatonic protein levels exclusively in pediatric patients. In this study, we identified that plasma ECP levels were significantly increased in pediatric patients with active EoE when compared to control individuals. This statistically significant result is in line with the conclusion of the few other studies which looked at both pediatric and adult participants. Our study also compared ECP levels in patients with active EoE versus patients who are in remission. Although levels of ECP were higher in individuals with active EoE, this result was not statistically significant. This may be due to ECP levels correlating with the degree of esophageal eosinophilia. While additional studies are necessary, this additional data continues to support the potential for ECP to be a noninvasive biomarker for screening and surveillance for EoE.
This is one of the five biomarkers I have looked at in my research study. Completion of testing and data analysis for the remainder of biomarkers is expected by the end of this month.
Eosinophilic Cationic Protein as a Noninvasive Biomarker for Pediatric Eosinophilic Esophagitis
Background:
Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an increasingly prevalent chronic antigen-mediated TH2-type immune disorder characterized by symptoms of esophageal dysfunction resulting in difficulty swallowing, food impaction, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and eventually esophageal strictures if not controlled. Currently, there are no minimally invasive tests that can screen, diagnose, or monitor patients with EoE. Patients with suspected EoE usually undergo general anesthesia for an upper endoscopy to obtain esophageal biopsies. Diagnosis is established when histological evaluation shows intraepithelial eosinophilia. Furthermore, repeated endoscopies are needed to monitor for active EoE, especially when making changes to the patient’s treatment plan. Due to this, the patient may require multiple endoscopies in a single year.
Objectives/Goal:
To evaluate whether plasma eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels reflect disease activity in pediatric patients with EoE when compared to the gold standard histological evaluation
Methods/Design:
Within our local gastroenterology biorepository, 87 participants who had plasma samples collected on day of endoscopy were identified and divided into three groups: active cases (Met EoE diagnostic criteria of > 15 eosinophils/HPF), remission (previous EoE diagnosis now with biopsies showing < 10 eosinophils/HPF), and control (no history of EoE and do not meet EoE diagnostic criteria). ELISA testing was performed on each sample. Statistical analysis was completed to determine differences between the three groups.
Results:
Plasma ECP was significantly increased in pediatric patients with active EoE compared with control individuals (median ECP 5010.82 vs. 2744.71 pg/mL, P < 0.001). However, there was no difference when active EoE patients were compared with EoE patients in remission (median ECP 3451.79 pg/mL, P = 0.22) or between those in remission and controls (P = 0.26). P-values result from Kruskal-Wallis test.
Conclusions:
This is the largest study to our knowledge which evaluated eosinophil catatonic protein levels exclusively in pediatric patients. In this study, we identified that plasma ECP levels were significantly increased in pediatric patients with active EoE when compared to control individuals. This statistically significant result is in line with the conclusion of the few other studies which looked at both pediatric and adult participants. Our study also compared ECP levels in patients with active EoE versus patients who are in remission. Although levels of ECP were higher in individuals with active EoE, this result was not statistically significant. This may be due to ECP levels correlating with the degree of esophageal eosinophilia. While additional studies are necessary, this additional data continues to support the potential for ECP to be a noninvasive biomarker for screening and surveillance for EoE.
This is one of the five biomarkers I have looked at in my research study. Completion of testing and data analysis for the remainder of biomarkers is expected by the end of this month.
Comments
Poster Board Number: 23