A recently published article in the Clinics and Research in Hepatology and Gastroenterology journal offers an insight into the role of early life exposures as risk factors for non-oesophagal eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (non-EoE EGIDs)​.

Our CEO Amanda Cordell is one of the authors of the article.

Eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGIDs) are inflammatory disorders characterised by the accumulation of eosinophils, a type of white blood cell, in the gastrointestinal tract. Prior studies have linked early life exposures with the development of eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE), a specific subtype of EGIDs. However, there needs to be more research exploring this association with non-EoE EGIDs.

Methods

The researchers utilised a unique online cohort of individuals with and without EGIDs. They observed specific early life exposures, including pregnancy complications, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, and antibiotics in infancy, associated with developing non-EoE EGIDs. They aimed to assess the association between prenatal, antenatal, and early life factors and non-EoE EGIDs.

All subjects (cases and controls, adults and caregivers of patients) completed the Early Life Exposure Questionnaire to assess early life exposures. Researchers performed a nested case-control study using data collected through the EGID Partners registry and cohort study (egidpartners.org). 

Results

The study analysed 61 non-EoE EGID cases and 20 controls with early life exposure data in the EGID Partners Cohort. 

Of the EGID cases, 14 had eosinophilic gastritis, 19 had eosinophilic enteritis, 6 had eosinophilic colitis, and 22 had multiple areas affected; additionally, 30 had oesophageal involvement. 

Relative to controls, EGID cases were more likely to have had antenatal or perinatal pregnancy-related complications and antibiotics in infancy.

Conclusions

The study concludes early life factors, including pregnancy complications, NICU admission, and antibiotics in infancy, were associated with developing non-EoE EGIDs. The impact of early life exposures on non-EoE EGID pathogenic mechanisms should be investigated.

Read the full publication

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