Budesonide Oral Suspension Improves Outcomes in Patients With Eosinophilic Esophagitis: Results From a Phase 3 Trial

Background & AimsEosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic, immune-mediated disease for which there is currently no pharmacologic therapy approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.MethodsIn this double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial, patients 11–55 years of age with EoE and dysphagia were randomized 2:1 to receive budesonide oral suspension (BOS) 2.0 mg twice daily or placebo for 12 weeks at academic or community care practices. Co-primary endpoints were the proportion of stringent histologic responders (≤6 eosinophils/high-power field) or dysphagia symptom responders (≥30% reduction in Dysphagia Symptom Questionnaire [DSQ] score) over 12 weeks. Changes in DSQ score (key secondary endpoint) and EoE Endoscopic Reference Score (EREFS) (secondary endpoint) from baseline to week 12, and safety parameters were examined.ResultsOverall, 318 patients (BOS, n = 213; placebo, n = 105) were randomized and received ≥1 dose of study treatment. More BOS-treated than placebo-treated patients achieved a stringent histologic response (53.5% vs 1.0%; Δ53% [95% confidence interval (CI), 43.8%–59.5%]; P < .001) or symptom response (52.6% vs 39.1%; Δ13% [95% CI, 1.6%–24.3%]; P = .024) over 12 weeks. BOS-treated patients also had greater improvements in least-squares mean DSQ scores and EREFS over 12 weeks than placebo-treated patients: DSQ, –13.0 (SEM 1.2) vs –9.1 (SEM 1.5) (Δ–3.9 [95% CI, –7.1 to –0.8]; P = .015); EREFS, –4.0 (SEM 0.3) vs –2.2 (SEM 0.4) (Δ–1.8 [95% CI, –2.6 to –1.1]; P < .001). BOS was well tolerated; most adverse events were mild or moderate in severity.ConclusionsIn patients with EoE, BOS 2.0 mg twice daily was superior to placebo in improving histologic, symptomatic, and endoscopic outcomes over 12 weeks. BOS 2.0 mg twice daily was well tolerated. ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT02605837.     

Long-Term Treatment of Eosinophilic Esophagitis With Budesonide Oral Suspension

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X Chromosome Contribution to the Genetic Architecture of Primary Biliary Cholangitis

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Rare,Overlooked, or Underappreciated Causes of Recurrent Abdominal Pain: A Primer for Gastroenterologists

Recurrent abdominal pain is a common reason for repeated visits to outpatient clinics and emergency departments, reflecting a substantial unmet need for timely and accurate diagnosis. A lack of awareness of some of the rarer causes of recurrent abdominal pain may impede diagnosis and delay effective management. This article identifies some of the key rare but diagnosable causes that are frequently missed by gastroenterologists and provides expert recommendations to support recognition, diagnosis, and management with the ultimate aim of improving patient outcomes.