An observational study in Eosinophilic Esophagitis, sponsored by University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-06-26.
Sponsored by University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill · Observational
Purpose: To validate our previously developed model of risk factors for diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), and to assess the utility of serum levels of biomarkers in diagnosis and monitoring of treatment of EoE. Participants: Up to a total of 800 participants (approximately 400 with EoE and 400 without EoE) who are referred for upper endoscopy. Procedures: This is a prospective cohort study. Patients will be compared with newly diagnosed EoE to non-EoE controls, obtain baseline measures, reassess EoE patients after treatment, and also reassess untreated controls. Data collection will include questionnaire results, blood collection, and tissue collection (esophageal biopsies performed during upper endoscopy per pre-specified protocol). Blood will be analyzed for the presence of the candidate biomarkers. Patients will be compared with newly diagnosed EoE to non-EoE controls, obtain baseline measures, reassess EoE patients after treatment, and also reassess untreated controls. Data collection will include questionnaire results, blood collection, possible saliva collection, possible urine collection, and tissue collection (esophageal biopsies performed during upper endoscopy per pre-specified protocol). Blood will be analyzed for the presence of the candidate biomarkers, including eotaxin-3 and IL-13.
The source of the study population will be patients aged 18 or older presenting at the gastrointestinal (Gl) Endoscopy Clinic at UNC-Chapel Hill for elective upper endoscopy with dysphagia and/or reflux symptoms.
Exclusion Criteria:
The cross-sectional arm will consist of patients who are having a clinically indicated endoscopy for reflux and/or dysphagia. Cross-sectional participants will have specimens collected and complete a questionnaire.
Other: Specimen Collection · Other: Questionnaires
The prospective longitudinal group will be subjects who have a positive EoE diagnosis during initial endoscopy. This prospective group will be followed up at their clinically indicated endoscopy after their standard of care clinical therapy of swallowed steroids. Prospective longitudinal participants will have specimens collected and complete questionnaires s prior to their standard of care clinical therapy of swallowed steroids and at their clinically indicated follow up upper endoscopy.
Other: Specimen Collection · Other: Questionnaires
Blood collection, possible saliva collection, possible urine collection, and biopsy collection
Subjects will complete a questionnaire utilizing validated symptom-specific instruments (Mayo Dysphagia Scale; GERD-HRQL Scale). The questionnaire will also record patient demographics, medical history, and current and past medication use
Risk factors in EoE diagnosis
To validate our model of clinical, endoscopic, and histopathologic risk factors for diagnosis of EoE by calculating the EoE risk score which includes subject's age, allergic conditions, endoscopic findings, and eosinophil count. Subject's EoE risk scores will be compared between EoE patients and two non-EoE control groups: patients with dysphagia and patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) who are not responsive to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy.
Time frame: Enrollment (day 1)
Inflammatory serum biomarker measures
To assess operating characteristics of serum biomarkers eotaxin-3 and IL-13 for diagnosis of incident cases of EoE as compared with two non-EoE control groups: patients with dysphagia and patients with GERD who are not responsive to PPI therapy.
Time frame: Enrollment (day 1)
Serum biomarker change following treatment in EoE cases
To determine the effect of clinically indicated topical steroid therapy on non-invasive serum biomarkers eotaxin-3 and IL-13 for monitoring treatment response in incident EoE cases.
Time frame: Enrollment (Day 1) and approximately 8 weeks after initial EGD
Documents are hosted by the registry — open the source record to download them.
Plan to share: No
This study is completed, as verified in Jun 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.
Sign in to followQuestions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.
Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.
Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill