A Trial of Montelukast for Maintenance Therapy of Eosinophilic Esophagitis in Children
Status:
Terminated
Trial end date:
2015-02-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EE) is a condition where eosinophils (a cell that fights infection)
travel to the esophagus (the tube through which food passes to the stomach). These cells do
not belong there and can cause pain, soreness, difficulty swallowing and sometimes vomiting.
Ways to treat this condition include medicine, not eating some foods, and drinking a specific
formula (like milk) without eating any other foods. Doing these things can help fight off EE
but these problems can come back when treatment is stopped. If EE symptoms go on for a long
time, it can lead to the esophagus becoming narrow and feeling tight when eating and
swallowing and surgery may be needed to widen the narrowed area to relieve the sensation of
tightening.
Montelukast is a medicine that fights off a type of chemical that can be a magnet for
eosinophils. People usually take this medicine to help treat their asthma. It is not approved
to treat EE. This medication is taken once a day.
The purpose of this study is to see if Montelukast, compared to placebo, will help reduce the
number of eosinophils in children with EE and help stop the tightening of the esophagus.