2024 Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

The 2024 Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI) was held Oct. 24-28 in Boston. The ACAAI is a professional medical organization of more than 6,000 allergists-immunologists and allied health professionals.

APFED has a booth in the exhibit hall to share resources and patient education about eosinophil-associated disease with attendees.

We were excited to see a number of sessions for eosinophil-associated disease on the meeting’s agenda this year, including a Friday morning panel that provided attendees with updates in EoE and a review of guidelines for diagnosis and treatment, and talks about ongoing EoE management and monitoring, risk factors, and new treatment options.

There were also opportunities to learn about eosinophilic inflammation, and a number of research posters that were presented on topics such as EoE, eosinophilic gastritis, hypereosinophilic syndrome, eosinophilic asthma, and EGPA.

Several oral abstracts were presented and Dr. Krishan Chhiba, MD, PhD from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine won the Clemens von Pirquet Abstract Award for the oral research abstract describing Transcriptomic Responses to Dietary Elimination in Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) Across Adult and Pediatric Populations. This study is the first to compare gene activity (using RNA sequencing) in children and adults with EoE who responded favorably to diet elimination. The researchers found unique gene expression patterns specific to adults with EoE, as well as a “Diet Response score” that stays consistent regardless of age. These discoveries could help doctors predict how well individual EoE patients might respond to diet therapy, making treatment more personalized and potentially more effective.

Research highlights from other oral abstracts are as follows:

• “Risk of developing eosinophilic esophagitis with preexisting asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, or food allergy” showed that all atopic risk factors studied as part of this research raised the risk of developing EoE, with food allergies showing the highest risk.
• “Efficacy of benralizumab and mepolizumab on asthma outcomes in patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis” showcased data showing that asthma-related outcomes in patients with EGPA improved with benralizumab and mepolizumab regardless of baseline dose inhaled corticosteroid.
• A number of oral abstracts focused on dupilumab for EoE. One highlighted research showing efficacy of dupilumab in children with EoE with and without atopic comorbidities. Another described how this drug helps improve health measures in people with EoE and affects various immune cells, including eosinophils to restore their development and function.
• The findings of the abstract entitled, “Effect of budesonide oral suspension on dysphagia severity outcomes in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis” suggest that BOS improves dysphagia severity as early as week 4 of treatment, and another entitled, “Effect of corticosteroid use on outcomes in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis receiving budesonide oral suspension” found the medication to be efficacious over 12 weeks versus placebo, irrespective of prior corticosteroid use for EoE.
• An abstract describing one center’s case series of eosinophilic fasciitis in pediatric patients found via ICD10 codes that APFED advocated to have established, and from 2000 to 2024 and a total of 11 cases of EF were diagnosed in pediatric patients this study provides valuable insight into the varying presenting symptoms, diagnostic findings, and treatment responses that can be seen in EF in the pediatric population.
• An abstract described how mepolizumab treatment allowed patients with HES and EGPA to reduce their long-term use of oral steroids and improved symptoms in affected organs, showing benefits beyond just needing less medication.

 

To learn more about the ACAAI and its annual meeting this year, or to browse the program, oral abstract summaries, and eposters, visit https://annualmeeting.acaai.org/2024/index.cfm.