Extraintestinal Symptoms of Pain Are Common in Patients With Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Diseases.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Extraintestinal symptoms are well-documented in systemic, inflammation-predominant conditions. Less is understood about extragastrointestinal symptoms among individuals with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and non-EoE eosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGIDs). We aimed to describe the differences in the frequency of patient-reported joint or leg pain and headache for EoE and non-EoE EGIDs individuals.

METHODS

Adult subjects and caregivers of children were recruited via the EGID Partners network and completed the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire and Migraine Disability Assessment Test. T-tests were used to evaluate differences in extraintestinal pain symptomology by EGID type.

RESULTS

We analyzed 95 subjects with EoE only and 24 subjects with non-EoE only EGIDs. Both EoE and non-EoE EGID subjects described frequent leg pain (50% and and 78%, respectively). While no significant difference was observed in number of days of leg pain, pain severity was higher for non-EoE EGID subjects (P < .01). In addition, 78% of EoE only and 89% of non-EoE only EGID subjects reported joint pain, with no significant difference in the number of days of pain, but with higher pain severity for non-EoE EGID subjects (P < .01). Headache disability scores for non-EoE EGID subjects were more severe compared to subjects with EoE alone (17% of non-EoE EGIDs with severe disability vs 9% for EoE; P = .01).

CONCLUSION

Patients with EGIDs may experience extraintestinal symptoms of pain. These symptoms may be more prominent in patients with non-EoE only EGIDs. Understanding of the underlying factors contributing to these symptoms is needed to guide mitigating approaches for these symptoms.