Eosinophilic esophagitis and allergic susceptibility: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a type 2 helper T (Th2) cell immune-mediated gastrointestinal disease. Accumulating evidence has supported allergic etiology as an underlying mechanism for EoE, but the magnitude of the correlation between EoE and atopy remains ambiguous. Hence, we perfo...

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Main Authors: Ruoyu Ji, MD (Doctor of Medicine), Xiangyi Cui, MM (Master of Medicine), Yuxiang Zhi, MD (Doctor of Medicine)
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-05-01
Series:World Allergy Organization Journal
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1939455125000298
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author Ruoyu Ji, MD (Doctor of Medicine)
Xiangyi Cui, MM (Master of Medicine)
Yuxiang Zhi, MD (Doctor of Medicine)
author_facet Ruoyu Ji, MD (Doctor of Medicine)
Xiangyi Cui, MM (Master of Medicine)
Yuxiang Zhi, MD (Doctor of Medicine)
author_sort Ruoyu Ji, MD (Doctor of Medicine)
collection DOAJ
description Background: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a type 2 helper T (Th2) cell immune-mediated gastrointestinal disease. Accumulating evidence has supported allergic etiology as an underlying mechanism for EoE, but the magnitude of the correlation between EoE and atopy remains ambiguous. Hence, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate and compare the rate of co-existing common atopic diseases between EoE and non-EoE patients. Methods: We searched through electronic databases and reference lists of review articles for studies describing co-existing rates of atopic diseases in EoE and non-EoE patients. EoE was diagnosed based on clinical and pathological evaluations. Risk of bias was assessed using the modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Random-effects models were used for analyses. Quantitative results were presented as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were performed to explore and to identify heterogeneity across studies. Publication bias was examined by Egger's test and visualized by funnel plots. Results: Altogether, 27 studies containing 1831 cases and 2982 controls were enrolled. 57.2% of EoE patients had co-existing atopic disease. Patients with EoE were more likely to comorbid with atopic diseases (OR = 3.56, 95% CI: 2.27 to 5.59, I2 = 78%), including asthma (OR = 2.43, 95% CI: 1.94 to 3.06, I2 = 29%), allergic rhinitis (OR = 5.39, 95% CI: 3.29 to 8.84, I2 = 78%), atopic dermatitis (OR = 2.46, 95% CI: 1.89 to 2.30, I2 = 12%) and food allergy (OR = 4.93, 95% CI: 3.96 to 6.14, I2 = 0%) than non-EoE controls. Heterogeneity sources were explored and identified via subgroup and sensitivity analyses, with the majority of subgroup estimates aligning with the primary findings. No significant publication bias was detected. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that EoE patients are more likely to comorbid atopic diseases, favoring the allergic diathesis of EoE. Clinicians should be alert for EoE in allergic patients having upper gastrointestinal symptoms. However, the causality between EoE and atopic diseases was not revealed and remains to be explored.
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spelling doaj-art-ba80f68a1ef3429ead090d3d07d4d81e2025-08-20T02:24:59ZengElsevierWorld Allergy Organization Journal1939-45512025-05-0118510105410.1016/j.waojou.2025.101054Eosinophilic esophagitis and allergic susceptibility: A systematic review and meta-analysisRuoyu Ji, MD (Doctor of Medicine)0Xiangyi Cui, MM (Master of Medicine)1Yuxiang Zhi, MD (Doctor of Medicine)2Department of Allergy, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Allergy, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, ChinaCorresponding author. Department of Allergy, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100730, China.; Department of Allergy, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, ChinaBackground: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a type 2 helper T (Th2) cell immune-mediated gastrointestinal disease. Accumulating evidence has supported allergic etiology as an underlying mechanism for EoE, but the magnitude of the correlation between EoE and atopy remains ambiguous. Hence, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate and compare the rate of co-existing common atopic diseases between EoE and non-EoE patients. Methods: We searched through electronic databases and reference lists of review articles for studies describing co-existing rates of atopic diseases in EoE and non-EoE patients. EoE was diagnosed based on clinical and pathological evaluations. Risk of bias was assessed using the modified Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Random-effects models were used for analyses. Quantitative results were presented as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were performed to explore and to identify heterogeneity across studies. Publication bias was examined by Egger's test and visualized by funnel plots. Results: Altogether, 27 studies containing 1831 cases and 2982 controls were enrolled. 57.2% of EoE patients had co-existing atopic disease. Patients with EoE were more likely to comorbid with atopic diseases (OR = 3.56, 95% CI: 2.27 to 5.59, I2 = 78%), including asthma (OR = 2.43, 95% CI: 1.94 to 3.06, I2 = 29%), allergic rhinitis (OR = 5.39, 95% CI: 3.29 to 8.84, I2 = 78%), atopic dermatitis (OR = 2.46, 95% CI: 1.89 to 2.30, I2 = 12%) and food allergy (OR = 4.93, 95% CI: 3.96 to 6.14, I2 = 0%) than non-EoE controls. Heterogeneity sources were explored and identified via subgroup and sensitivity analyses, with the majority of subgroup estimates aligning with the primary findings. No significant publication bias was detected. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that EoE patients are more likely to comorbid atopic diseases, favoring the allergic diathesis of EoE. Clinicians should be alert for EoE in allergic patients having upper gastrointestinal symptoms. However, the causality between EoE and atopic diseases was not revealed and remains to be explored.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1939455125000298Eosinophilic esophagitisAtopyAllergic marchMeta-analysis
spellingShingle Ruoyu Ji, MD (Doctor of Medicine)
Xiangyi Cui, MM (Master of Medicine)
Yuxiang Zhi, MD (Doctor of Medicine)
Eosinophilic esophagitis and allergic susceptibility: A systematic review and meta-analysis
World Allergy Organization Journal
Eosinophilic esophagitis
Atopy
Allergic march
Meta-analysis
title Eosinophilic esophagitis and allergic susceptibility: A systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full Eosinophilic esophagitis and allergic susceptibility: A systematic review and meta-analysis
title_fullStr Eosinophilic esophagitis and allergic susceptibility: A systematic review and meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Eosinophilic esophagitis and allergic susceptibility: A systematic review and meta-analysis
title_short Eosinophilic esophagitis and allergic susceptibility: A systematic review and meta-analysis
title_sort eosinophilic esophagitis and allergic susceptibility a systematic review and meta analysis
topic Eosinophilic esophagitis
Atopy
Allergic march
Meta-analysis
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1939455125000298
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