Barry K. Wershil, MD, division head of gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition at Anne & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, and his colleagues are researching ways to develop a non-invasive test to diagnose and monitor eosinophilic esophagitis.
Here are five highlights:
1. Currently, the only means to diagnose EoE is through upper endoscopy to obtain biopsies of the esophagus. This is done under general anesthesia and has to be repeated as often as three or four times a year to assess treatment response.
2. Dr. Wershil and colleagues are correlating a number of potential biomarkers with data gleaned from biopsies when participating patients undergo endoscopy. They are also evaluating how biomarker levels change over time in the same patient, especially in response to treatment.
3. The American Partnership for Eosinophilic Diseases is funding their research.
4. Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago is ranked fifth in the nation in pediatric gastroenterology by the U.S. News & World Report.
5. Dr. Wershil earned his medical degree from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and completed his residency at St. Louis Children's Hospital. He completed a fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology at Boston Children's Hospital.