Abstract
Objective: The treatment of patients with eosinophilic esophagitis remains challenging. The effects of the current first-choice treatment, ie, topical corticosteroids, are still inadequately surveyed. Our aim was to assess dysphagia and health-related quality of life using validated scales and questionnaires before and after treatment with mometasone furoate.
Method: Newly diagnosed, untreated adult patients with eosinophilic esophagitis were included and given 200 µg of orally administered topical mometasone furoate 4 times daily. Questionnaires, incorporating the Watson Dysphagia Scale, the EORTC QLQ-OES18, and the SF-36, were completed before and after 2 months of treatment.
Results: Thirty-one consecutive patients (22 males, mean age 45, range 18-89) completed the trial. At inclusion, the mean scores of the Watson Dysphagia Scale, the EORTC QLQ-OES18 dysphagia scale, eating scale and choking item, and the SF-36 global health dimension and social functioning dimension were 21.3, 20.4, 35.0, 38.6, 71.1, and 82.3, respectively. Posttreatment, these scores improved to 8.9 (P < .0001), 4.6 (P < .00001), 17.8 (P < .001), 16.0 (P < .01), 76.1 (P < .05) and 91.9 (P = .0001), respectively. Except for one case of oral candidiasis, no significant side effects were reported.
Conclusion: Treatment with 2 months of orally administered mometasone furoate seems to have a beneficial effect on dysphagia and health-related quality of life in the majority of adult patients with eosinophilic esophagitis. However, a randomized placebo-controlled trial is warranted in order to verify this.
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