Primary eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGIDs) are chronic inflammatory diseases of unknown etiology, which may involve any part of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, and lead to eosinophilic mucosal infiltration in the absence of secondary causes of intestinal eosinophilia. In the last years, we are focusing our research in this group of diseases, including eosinophilic esophagitis, eosinophilic gastritis, eosinophilic enteritis and eosinophilic colitis. We aim to comprehensively and systematically characterize the mechanisms of immune dysregulation that contribute to their pathogenesis; to identify possible contributions of environmental factors, including eating habits; to identify and validate new therapeutic targets; to evaluate the effect of these conditions on the quality of life and work disability.

Publications:

• Savarino EV, Tolone S, Bartolo O, de Cassan C, Caccaro R, Galeazzi F, Nicoletti L, Salvador R, Martinato M, Costantini M, Savarino V. The GerdQ questionnaire and high resolution manometry support the hypothesis that proton pump inhibitor-responsive oesophageal eosinophilia is a GERD-related phenomenon. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2016 Sep;44(5):522-30
• Savarino E, Tolone S, Caccaro R, Bartolo O, Galeazzi F, Nicoletti L, Morbin T, Zanatta L, Salvador R, Costantini M. Clinical, endoscopic, histological and radiological characteristics of Italian patients with eosinophilic oesophagitis. Dig Liver Dis. 2015 Dec;47(12):1033-8
• Facchin S, Calgaro M, Pandolfo M, Caldart F, Ghisa M, Greco E, Sattin E, Valle G, Dellon ES, Vitulo N, Savarino EV. Salivary microbiota composition may discriminate between patients with eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) and non-EoE subjects. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2022 Aug;56(3):450-462   
• Ma C, Schoepfer AM, Safroneeva E; COREOS Collaborators; COREOS Collaborators. Development of a Core Outcome Set for Therapeutic Studies in Eosinophilic Esophagitis (COREOS): An International Multidisciplinary Consensus. Gastroenterology. 2021 Sep;161(3):748-755
• Frazzoni M, Frazzoni L, De Bortoli N, Russo S, Tolone S, Arsiè E, Conigliaro R, Penagini R, Savarino E. Response of eosinophilic oesophagitis to proton pump inhibitors is associated with impedance-pH parameters implying anti-reflux mechanism of action. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2021 Jun;53(11):1183-1189

Funding:

2008 - Title of The Research Project “Pathogenic Mechanisms And Common Therapeutic Strategies In the Immune-Related Dermatopathies Associated To Chronic Enteropathies” Funded by Italian Ministry of Instruction, Research and University – PRIN 2008
2016 - Title of The Research Project “Impact of Chronicity on Disability State and Quality of Life in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis” Funded by the Italian Group of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IG-IBD)

People involved:

Fabio Farinati, Full Professor
Edoardo V. Savarino, Associate Professor
Fabiana Zingone, Assistant Professor
Renato Salvador, Associate Professor

Group members:

Anna D’Odorico, Francesca Galeazzi, Brigida Barberio (Consultant Gastroenterologists), Cesare Ruffolo, Marco Scarpa (Consultant Surgeon), Sonia Facchin, Ilaria Marsilio, Daria Maniero (Research Fellows), Greta Lorenzon (Research Nurse)