Navigate the Landscape of EOE
Clinical trials, publications, and treatment insights curated by AI agents to accelerate our research.
What is Eosinophilic Esophagitis?
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Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EOE) is a chronic, immune-mediated disease in which eosinophils, white blood cells that normally help fight parasitic infections, infiltrate the esophageal lining in abnormally high numbers. This persistent buildup triggers ongoing inflammation that damages tissue over time, leading to fibrosis, stricture formation, and a progressively narrowed esophagus that makes swallowing increasingly difficult.
First recognized as a distinct diagnosis in the early 1990s, EOE has seen a dramatic rise in reported cases — driven by improved awareness, standardized diagnostic criteria, and a genuine increase in allergic disease worldwide. It affects all ages, ethnicities, and geographies, with the highest prevalence among males aged 20–40. Despite growing recognition, the average patient waits 4–5 years from symptom onset to diagnosis, underscoring the need for greater education and earlier intervention.
What Happens Inside
When food or allergens trigger EOE, the immune system sends waves of eosinophils into the esophageal wall. These cells release toxic granule proteins — major basic protein, eosinophil peroxidase, and cytokines — that directly damage the epithelial lining. Over time, this chronic inflammation disrupts normal peristalsis, the rhythmic muscle contractions that move food downward.
As the cycle of injury and repair continues, the esophageal tissue thickens and stiffens. Concentric rings (trachealization) form along the lumen, furrows run vertically down the wall, and white exudates dot the surface. In advanced disease, fibrous strictures develop that physically narrow the passage, sometimes reducing the esophageal diameter enough to trap solid food entirely.
Signs & Symptoms
Difficulty swallowing solid foods; sensation of food sticking in the chest or throat.
Food bolus becomes lodged in the esophagus, requiring emergency removal.
Non-cardiac chest pain, often mistaken for heart-related issues.
Persistent heartburn that does not respond to standard acid-reflux medications.
Refusing to eat or showing distress during meals, especially with new textures.
Frequent vomiting or regurgitation, often misdiagnosed as GERD.
Recurrent stomach pain, particularly after eating trigger foods.
Poor weight gain and growth in children due to nutritional deficits.
Triggers & Allergens
Path to Diagnosis
Patient or family notices persistent swallowing difficulties, food avoidance, or unexplained GI symptoms.
Initial evaluation by a primary care physician or pediatrician to rule out common causes.
Gastroenterologist evaluates symptoms and determines if endoscopy is warranted.
An endoscope is passed through the mouth to visually inspect the esophageal lining and collect tissue biopsies.
A pathologist examines biopsy samples under microscopy for eosinophil density.
Gastroenterologist and patient collaborate on a personalized treatment approach.
About This Project
Hi, I'm Jason Ungheanu. This project is personal. I was diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis in 2017, and since then I've lived with the daily realities of managing a chronic condition that most people have never heard of. The difficulty swallowing, the dietary restrictions, the endoscopies, the trial-and-error of treatments. It's a condition that forces you to become your own advocate and, inevitably, your own researcher.
My background is in data and research, and I've spent my career working at the intersection of technology and complex problem-solving. When I started digging into EOE literature, I realized how scattered and inaccessible the information was, especially for patients trying to understand their own condition. That frustration became the motivation for EOE Atlas: a platform that applies AI-powered research tools to surface the latest PubMed publications, track active clinical trials, and organize findings in a way that's actually useful.
This is the marriage of clinical immunology and translational research, built by someone who genuinely needs it to exist. Whether you're a researcher, a clinician managing EOE patients, or someone personally affected by the disease, you're invited to explore the tools and data collected here. The goal is simple: make the best available evidence easier to find, understand, and act on.