Browsing by Author "Schoepfer, Alain"

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    Creating a multi-center rare disease consortium - the Consortium of Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disease Researchers (CEGIR)
    (IOS Press, 2017-12-18) Cheng, Katherine; Gupta, Sandeep K.; Kantor, Susanna; Kuhl, Jonathan T.; Aceves, Seema S.; Bonis, Peter A.; Capocelli, Kelley E.; Carpenter, Christina; Chehade, Mirna; Collins, Margaret H.; Dellon, Evan S.; Falk, Gary W.; Gopal-Srivastava, Rashmi; Gonsalves, Nirmala; Hirano, Ikuo; King, Eileen C.; Leung, John; Krischer, Jeffrey P.; Mukkada, Vincent A.; Schoepfer, Alain; Spergel, Jonathan M.; Straumann, Alex; Yang, Guang-Yu; Furuta, Glenn T.; Rothenberg, Marc E.; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGIDs) affect various segments of the gastrointestinal tract. Since these disorders are rare, collaboration is essential to enroll subjects in clinical studies and study the broader population. The Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network (RDCRN), a program of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), funded the Consortium of Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disease Researchers (CEGIR) in 2014 to advance the field of EGIDs. CEGIR facilitates collaboration among various centers, subspecialties, patients, professional organizations and patient-advocacy groups and includes 14 clinical sites. It has successfully initiated two large multi-center clinical studies looking to refine EGID diagnoses and management. Several pilot studies are underway that focus on various aspects of EGIDs including novel therapeutic interventions, diagnostic and monitoring methods, and the role of the microbiome in pathogenesis. CEGIR currently nurtures five physician-scholars through a career training development program and has published more than 40 manuscripts since its inception. This review focuses on CEGIR's operating model and progress and how it facilitates a framework for exchange of ideas and stimulates research and innovation. This consortium provides a model for progress on other potential clinical areas.
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    Food‐induced immediate response of the esophagus—A newly identified syndrome in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis
    (Wiley, 2021-01) Biedermann, Luc; Holbreich, Mark; Atkins, Dan; Chehade, Mirna; Dellon, Evan S.; Furuta, Glenn T.; Hirano, Ikuo; Gonsalves, Nirmala; Greuter, Thomas; Gupta, Sandeep; Katzka, David A.; De Rooij, Willemijn; Safroneeva, Ekaterina; Schoepfer, Alain; Schreiner, Philipp; Simon, Dagmar; Simon, Hans Uwe; Warners, Marijn; Bredenoord, Albert-Jan; Straumann, Alex; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Background Dysphagia is the main symptom of adult eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). We describe a novel syndrome, referred to as “food-induced immediate response of the esophagus” (FIRE), observed in EoE patients. Methods Food-induced immediate response of the esophagus is an unpleasant/painful sensation, unrelated to dysphagia, occurring immediately after esophageal contact with specific foods. Eosinophilic esophagitis experts were surveyed to estimate the prevalence of FIRE, characterize symptoms, and identify food triggers. We also surveyed a large group of EoE patients enrolled in the Swiss EoE Cohort Study for FIRE. Results Response rates were 82% (47/57) for the expert and 65% (239/368) for the patient survey, respectively. Almost, 90% of EoE experts had observed the FIRE symptom complex in their patients. Forty percent of EoE patients reported experiencing FIRE, more commonly in patients who developed EoE symptoms at a younger age (mean age of 46.4 years vs 54.1 years without FIRE; P < .01) and in those with high allergic comorbidity. Food-induced immediate response of the esophagus symptoms included narrowing, burning, choking, and pressure in the esophagus appearing within 5 minutes of ingesting a provoking food that lasted less than 2 hours. Symptom severity rated a median 7 points on a visual analogue scale from 1 to 10. Fresh fruits/vegetables and wine were the most frequent triggers. Endoscopic food removal was significantly more commonly reported in male patients with vs without FIRE (44.3% vs 27.6%; P = .03). Conclusions Food-induced immediate response of the esophagus is a novel syndrome frequently reported in EoE patients, characterized by an intense, unpleasant/painful sensation occurring rapidly and reproducibly in 40% of surveyed EoE patients after esophageal contact with specific foods.
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    International consensus recommendations for eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease nomenclature
    (Elsevier, 2022-02-16) Dellon, Evan S.; Gonsalves, Nirmala; Abonia, J. Pablo; Alexander, Jeffrey A.; Arva, Nicoleta C.; Atkins, Dan; Attwood, Stephen E.; Auth, Marcus K.H.; Bailey, Dominique D.; Biederman, Luc; Blanchard, Carine; Bonis, Peter A.; Bose, Paroma; Bredenoord, Albert J.; Chang, Joy W.; Chehade, Mirna; Collins, Margaret H.; Di Lorenzo, Carlo; Dias, Jorge Amil; Dohil, Ranjan; Dupont, Christophe; Falk, Gary W.; Ferreira, Cristina T.; Fox, Adam T.; Genta, Robert M.; Greuter, Thomas; Gupta, Sandeep K.; Hirano, Ikuo; Hiremath, Girish S.; Horsley-Silva, Jennifer L.; Ishihara, Shunji; Ishimura, Norihisa; Jensen, Elizabeth T.; Gutiérrez-Junquera, Carolina; Katzka, David A.; Khoury, Paneez; Kinoshita, Yoshikazu; Kliewer, Kara L.; Koletzko, Sibylle; Leung, John; Liacouras, Chris A.; Lucendo, Alfredo J.; Martin, Lisa J.; McGowan, Emily C.; Menard-Katcher, Calies; Metz, David C.; Miller, Talya L.; Moawad, Fouad J.; Muir, Amanda B.; Mukkada, Vincent A.; Murch, Simon; Nhu, Quan M.; Nomura, Ichiro; Nurko, Samuel; Ohtsuka, Yoshikazu; Oliva, Salvatore; Orel, Rok; Papadopoulou, Alexandra; Patel, Dhyanesh A.; Pesek, Robert D.; Peterson, Kathryn A.; Philpott, Hamish; Putnam, Philip E.; Richter, Joel E.; Rosen, Rachel; Ruffner, Melanie A.; Safroneeva, Ekaterina; Schreiner, Philipp; Schoepfer, Alain; Schroeder, Shauna R.; Shah, Neil; Souza, Rhonda F.; Spechler, Stuart J.; Spergel, Jonathan M.; Straumann, Alex; Talley, Nicholas J.; Thapar, Nikhil; Vandenplas, Yvan; Venkatesh, Rajitha D.; Vieira, Mario C.; von Arnim, Ulrike; Walker, Marjorie M.; Wechsler, Joshua B.; Wershil, Barry K.; Wright, Benjamin L.; Yamada, Yoshiyuki; Yang, Guang-Yu; Zevit, Noam; Rothenberg, Marc E.; Furuta, Glenn T.; Aceves, Seema S.; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Background & Aims Substantial heterogeneity in terminology used for eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGID), particularly the catchall term “eosinophilic gastroenteritis”, limits clinical and research advances. We aimed to achieve an international consensus for standardized EGID nomenclature. Methods This consensus process utilized Delphi methodology. An initial naming framework was proposed and refined in iterative fashion, then assessed in a first round of Delphi voting. Results were discussed in two consensus meetings, the framework was updated, and re-assessed in a second Delphi vote, with a 70% threshold set for agreement. Results Of 91 experts participating, 85 (93%) completed the first and 82 (90%) completed the second Delphi surveys. Consensus was reached on all but two statements. “EGID” was the preferred umbrella term for disorders of GI tract eosinophilic inflammation in the absence of secondary causes (100% agreement). Involved GI tract segments will be named specifically and use an “Eo” abbreviation convention: eosinophilic gastritis (now abbreviated EoG), eosinophilic enteritis (EoN), and eosinophilic colitis (EoC). The term “eosinophilic gastroenteritis” is no longer preferred as the overall name (96% agreement). When >2 GI tract areas are involved, the name should reflect all of the involved areas. Conclusions This international process resulted in consensus for updated EGID nomenclature for both clinical and research use. EGID will be the umbrella term rather than “eosinophilic gastroenteritis”, and specific naming conventions by location of GI tract involvement are recommended. As more data are developed, this framework can be updated to reflect best practices and the underlying science.
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    Long-term Efficacy and Tolerability of RPC4046 in an Open-Label Extension Trial of Patients With Eosinophilic Esophagitis
    (Elsevier, 2021-03) Dellon, Evan S.; Collins, Margaret H.; Rothenberg, Marc E.; Assouline-Dayan, Yehudith; Evans, Larry; Gupta, Sandeep; Schoepfer, Alain; Straumann, Alex; Safroneeva, Ekaterina; Rodriguez, Cristian; Minton, Neil; Hua, Steven Y.; Hirano, Ikuo; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Background & Aims The short-term efficacy of RPC4046, a monoclonal antibody against interleukin-13, has been shown in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). We investigated the long-term efficacy and safety of RPC4046 in an open-label, long-term extension (LTE) study in adults with EoE. Methods We analyzed data from 66 patients who completed the 16-week, double-blind, induction portion of a phase 2 study of RPC4046 (180 mg or 360 mg/wk) vs placebo and then completed a 52-week LTE, receiving open-label RPC4046 360 mg/wk. The study was conducted at 28 centers in 3 countries; patients were enrolled between September 2014 and January 2017. Outcomes were stratified by double-blind dose group and included esophageal eosinophil counts, EoE endoscopic reference score, EoE histologic scoring system score, symptom-based EoE activity index score, and safety. Results By week 12 of the LTE, esophageal eosinophil mean and peak counts, total EoE endoscopic reference scores, and EoE histologic scoring system grade and stage scores did not differ considerably between patients who originally received placebo vs RPC4046. Most patients maintained responses through week 52. Symptom remission (symptom-based EoE activity index score, ≤20) increased from 14% at LTE entry to 67% at LTE week 52 in placebo‒RPC4046 patients and from 30% to 54% in RPC4046‒RPC4046 (either dose) patients. Of the 28 patients who did not have a histologic response to RPC4046 during the double-blind induction phase, 10 patients (36%) achieved response during the LTE. The most common adverse events were upper respiratory tract infection (21%) and nasopharyngitis (14%). Conclusions One year of treatment with RPC4046 is generally well tolerated and results in continued improvement and/or maintenance of endoscopic, histologic, and clinical measures of EoE disease activity relative to baseline.
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    Monitoring patients with eosinophilic esophagitis in routine clinical practice - International Expert Recommendations
    (Elsevier, 2023) von Arnim, Ulrike; Biedermann, Luc; Aceves, Seema S.; Bonis, Peter A.; Collins, Margaret H.; Dellon, Evan S.; Furuta, Glenn T.; Gonsalves, Nirmala; Gupta, Sandeep; Hirano, Ikuo; Lucendo, Alfredo J.; Miehlke, Stephan; Oliva, Salvatore; Schlag, Christoph; Schoepfer, Alain; Straumann, Alex; Vieth, Michael; Bredenoord, Albert J.; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Background & Aims There are no studies or recommendations on optimal monitoring strategies for patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Our objective was to develop guidance on how to monitor EoE patients in routine clinical practice, on the basis of available clinical evidence and expert opinion. Methods A multidisciplinary, international group of EoE experts identified the following important three questions during several consensus meetings: why, by what means and when to monitor EoE patients. A steering committee was named and three teams were formed to review literature and to formulate statements for each topic. In a Delphi survey a level of agreement of ≥75% was defined as threshold value for acceptance. In a final conference, results were presented, critical points and comments on the statements were discussed and statements were rephrased/rewritten if necessary. Results 18 EoE experts (14 adult and pediatric gastroenterologists, 2 pathologists and 2 allergists) with a median of 21.7 years in clinical practice, mostly academic or university- based, completed the Delphi survey, which included 11 statements and a proposed algorithm for monitoring EoE patients. Each statement attained ≥75% agreement. Participants discussed and debated mostly about the statement concerning surveillance intervals for EoE patients with stable disease. Conclusions It was concluded that effective maintenance treatment probably reduces the development of EoE complications, and regular, structured and under certain conditions individualized clinical follow-up is recommended to assess disease activity while opening a window to monitoring side-effects, adjusting therapy and encouraging adherence to treatment. Follow-up should comprise symptom assessment and periodic or repeated endoscopy with histological assessment in specific EoE settings.
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    Proton Pump Inhibitor-Responsive Oesophageal Eosinophilia: An Entity Challenging Current Diagnostic Criteria for Eosinophilic Oesophagitis
    (BMJ, 2016-03) Molina-Infante, Javier; Bredenoord, Albert J.; Cheng, Edaire; Dellon, Evan S.; Furuta, Glenn T.; Gupta, Sandeep K.; Hirano, Ikuo; Katzka, David A.; Moawad, Fouad J.; Rothenberg, Marc E.; Schoepfer, Alain; Spechler, Stuart; Wen, Ting; Straumann, Alex; Lucendo, Alfredo J.; Department of Pediatrics, IU School of Medicine
    Consensus diagnostic recommendations to distinguish GORD from eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) by response to a trial of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) unexpectedly uncovered an entity called 'PPI-responsive oesophageal eosinophilia' (PPI-REE). PPI-REE refers to patients with clinical and histological features of EoE that remit with PPI treatment. Recent and evolving evidence, mostly from adults, shows that patients with PPI-REE and patients with EoE at baseline are clinically, endoscopically and histologically indistinguishable and have a significant overlap in terms of features of Th2 immune-mediated inflammation and gene expression. Furthermore, PPI therapy restores oesophageal mucosal integrity, reduces Th2 inflammation and reverses the abnormal gene expression signature in patients with PPI-REE, similar to the effects of topical steroids in patients with EoE. Additionally, recent series have reported that patients with EoE responsive to diet/topical steroids may also achieve remission on PPI therapy. This mounting evidence supports the concept that PPI-REE represents a continuum of the same immunological mechanisms that underlie EoE. Accordingly, it seems counterintuitive to differentiate PPI-REE from EoE based on a differential response to PPI therapy when their phenotypic, molecular, mechanistic and therapeutic features cannot be reliably distinguished. For patients with symptoms and histological features of EoE, it is reasonable to consider PPI therapy not as a diagnostic test, but as a therapeutic agent. Due to its safety profile, ease of administration and high response rates (up to 50%), PPI can be considered a first-line treatment before diet and topical steroids. The reasons why some patients with EoE respond to PPI, while others do not, remain to be elucidated.