Anti-IgE treatment with omalizumab for eosinophil-associated gastrointestinal disorders (EGID)

Eosinophil-associated gastrointestinal disorders (EGIDs) are being recognized with increasing frequency but current therapy with swallowed inhaled steroids is often inadequate.

In a recent study, 9 subjects with EGIDs received omalizumab every 2 weeks for 16 weeks.

Omalizumab was associated with a decrease in absolute eosinophil count but did not lead to a statistical significant decrease in tissue eosinophils. Symptom scores were also decreased (P of less than 0.005).

In conclusion, anti-IgE with omalizumab might be a potential therapy for EGIDs.

References:
Anti-IgE treatment of eosinophil-associated gastrointestinal disorders. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007 Sep;120(3):594-601.
Eosinophilic Esophagitis videocast from The DAVE Project - Gastroenterology, 2005.

Updated: 11/13/2007