Efficacy of Topical Corticosteroid Monotherapy in Inducing and Maintaining Clinical and Histologic Remission in Adolescent and Adult Patients with Eosinophilic Esophagitis: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is the second most common cause of esophagitis. Topical steroids represent a promising group of drugs for inducing and maintaining clinical and histological remission in these patients.Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness of topical steroids in inducing and maintaining clinical and histological remission in adolescent and adult patients with EoE.Methods. A systematic literature search using defined keywords was performed up to March 20, 2021 in the MEDLINE / PubMed, EMBASE (Excerpta Medica), and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, ClinicalTrial.gov databases.Results. 390 patients from 5 studies were included in this systematic review with meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed that topical steroids, compared with placebo, was more effective in inducing (odds ratio (OR) 75.77; 95 % confidence interval (CI): (21.8; 263.41), p < 0.001) and maintaining complete histological remission (OR 103.65; 95 % CI: (36.05; 298.01), p < 0.001) in patients with EoE. Also, topical steroids significantly relieved disease symptoms compared with placebo in inducing and maintaining clinical remission (OR 4.86; 95 % CI: (1.4; 16.86), p = 0.01) and (OR 11.06; 95 % CI: (4.62; 26.45), p < 0.001) respectively.Conclusions. Topical steroids represent an effective group of drugs for inducing and maintaining histologic and clinical remission in adolescent and adult patients with EoE.