Don't Let Inflammatory and Eosinophilic Diseases Get the Best of You

Modena Allergy + Asthma in San Diego Can Help

When you think of the word allergy, it’s easy to automatically associate it with symptoms like sneezing, itchy nose and eyes, but what many people don’t realize is that allergists today do much more in diagnosing and treating abnormalities of the immune system. At our office in San Diego Eosinophilic Diseases are one of the most common immune diseases that we treat. These conditions include hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES), severe eosinophilic asthma, eosinophilic pneumonia, eosinophilic skin rashes, eosinophilic granulomatosis, polyangiitis (EGPA)...

and eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease (EGID) [which includes eosinophilic gastritis (EoG), eosinophilic enteritis (EoN), and eosinophilic colitis (EoC)]. Dr. Brian Modena specializes in diagnosing and treating eosinophilic and other inflammatory diseases. If you have been diagnosed or suspect that you have been diagnosed with an eosinophilic immune disorder, or want to learn more about these conditions, and how we can help, contact our allergy specialists at Modena Allergy + Asthma today.

What are eosinophilic diseases?

Reduce Inflammation Using Holistic and Personalized Approaches

An eosinophil is a type of white blood cell or immune cell–i.e., the type of cell that helps the body fight infections. The exact purpose or role of eosinophils today is unclear, but they may be involved in a variety of functions from regulating infections and promoting wound healing. In the past, we know eosinophils used to help us fight parasitic infections in our gut or lungs. In resource-rich countries like the U.S., very few of us get parasitic infections anymore and so having no or low eosinophils does not appear to impact us very much. Alternatively, when eosinophils grow, proliferate, and multiply to high numbers in the body, they start invading tissues and causing major damage. When eosinophils invade the lungs, they can cause eosinophilic pneumonia, severe eosinophilic asthma, or eosinophilic granulomatosis and polyangiitis (EGPA), causing major problems breathing.

Additional Reading

Together, all of these conditions are called eosinophilic diseases. When eosinophils infiltrate the tissue, they cause inflammation and damage. In the esophagus, they can cause trouble swallowing or even cause food to get impacted or stuck in the esophagus. In the gut, they can cause bloating, pain, discomfort, and diarrhea. In the lungs, they can cause airway narrowing, permanent changes in the airway, and trouble breathing. High eosinophils are particularly common in people who have asthma and chronic sinus disease, including nasal polyps. If you have been diagnosed with an eosinophilic disease or have uncontrolled sinus or lung problems, make an appointment today with Dr. Brian Modena at Modena Allergy + Asthma.

What is Hypereosinophilic Syndrome (HES)

Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a rare disease that occurs when the body makes too many of a certain white blood cell (immune cell) called an eosinophil. Eosinophils build up in the body’s tissues and cause damage.

An eosinophil is an immune cell that helps us fight off parasites, like intestinal worms. But eosinophils also play a major role in inflammatory diseases such as eosinophilic gastrointestinal disease, asthma, nasal polyps, sinusitis, and chronic skin rashes. Since parasitic infections are uncommon, and since people with naturally low eosinophils do not appear at a higher risk of infections than anyone else, eosinophils appear to cause us more harm than good today.

Organs typically affected by HES include the skin, lungs, digestive tract, heart, blood and nervous system. If left untreated, HES can become life-threatening.

Treatment: Many other diseases, including asthma, drug reactions, parasite infections, and atopic diseases, can cause an increased production of eosinophils. These are called ‘secondary’ causes. Thus, the first step in treatment is to identify and treat any secondary cause of high eosinophil production, e.g., a parasitic infection.

The next decision is whether treatment is needed, or if the person can be simply monitored without treatment. Once it is determined that treatment is required, steroids and Nucala® (mepolizumab) are commonly used to treat primary (idiopathic) HES, but other treatments including Glivec ® (imatinib), hydroxyurea, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, benralizumab and interferon-alpha have been also used depending on the type of HES and the initial responsiveness to steroids.

Why us? Dr. Modena has a decade of experience in treating and researching allergic and eosinophilic disorders. His research has included microbiome, genetics, inflammatory biomarkers, and machine learning/artificial intelligence. He uses new technologies to improve and personalize medical therapies. At Modena Allergy & Asthma, we are leading the way in research that aims to better understand and treat eosinophilic disorders. For those with HES, we offer the opportunity to participate in a new clinical trial (ADD LINK).

Currently Enrolling - Hypereosinophilic Syndrome (HES)

Problem: Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a rare disease that occurs when the body makes too many of a certain white blood cell (immune cell) called an eosinophil. Eosinophils build up in the body’s tissues and cause damage.

Organs typically affected by HES include the skin, lungs, digestive tract, heart, blood and nervous system. If left untreated, HES can become life-threatening.

What are monoclonal antibody treatments?

Precise Treatment

Over the last decade, the medical field has witnessed an explosion of highly specific and highly targeted monoclonal antibody therapies. Our bodies make antibodies naturally, primarily to help us fight infections. Antibodies that your body makes bind to harmful agents, such as viruses or bacteria, signaling to our immune system to destroy and clear them. Using certain technology, scientists have been able to design antibodies that attack certain parts of our immune system in order to reduce inflammation and treat diseases. For eosinophilic disease San Diego patients can now get antibody therapies that have been developed to target and reduce eosinophils in the body.

Additional Reading

These therapies have proven to be much safer and more effective than steroids, which have been the mainstay of therapy for these conditions for decades. Many other monoclonal antibody treatment therapies have been developed that treat other types of inflammation in the body by targeting other parts of the immune system. These are now being used to treat eczema, chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps, and asthma. At Modena Allergy + Asthma, we custom-select therapies just for you. After testing, we’ll know exactly what your body needs to get your symptoms under control and give you back to your normal health!

San Diego inflammatory eosinophilic diseases model running

Am I a good candidate for inflammatory disease testing?

Personalized for Patients of Any Age

If you suffer from undiagnosed or difficult-to-control sinus disease, asthma/breathing conditions, eczema, or gastrointestinal issues, it is likely time to consider visiting an allergy specialist. At Modena Allergy + Asthma, San Diego Eosinophilic disease patients are offered highly personalized care with Dr. Brian Modena. By conducting thorough interviews, examinations, and targeted testing, we can often make rare and uncommon diagnoses that other physicians cannot.

Dr. Modena has also been actively involved and extensively published in genomic and genetic research. He is constantly searching and dedicated to finding the ‘right’ answer for all of his patients, which may at times include investigational or targeted gene sequencing.

San Diego inflammatory eosinophilic diseases model with brown hair

Your Inflammatory / Eosinophilic Disease Testing Process

Beating Your Symptoms at the Source

Prior to your first visit, it is of utmost importance that Dr. Modena has access and reviews any medical visit notes, labs, or imaging that you have done in the past. This information will greatly enrich the conversation between yourself and the doctor, speed up the work-up process, and even at times change the diagnosis altogether. We ask all patients to sign a Medical Release Form, which will be sent to your email address. After you sign the document, we will fax the request and work with your outside doctor’s office to obtain your records. Dr. Modena may then order specialized labs, imaging and allergy skin testing for further evaluation. At a follow-up visit in 1-2 weeks, Dr. Modena will discuss all the results together and come up with a clear plan of action going forward.

Inflammatory / Eosinophilic Disease Recovery

Your Individualized Path to Optimal Health

Recovery from eosinophilic diseases is highly individualized and can vary widely from person to person. In some cases, recovery may be relatively quick, and treatment programs often focus on minimizing flare-ups over prolonged periods to achieve long-term remission. If you live with an eosinophilic disease, you must speak with Dr. Modena about making treatment decisions that are right for you.

Monoclonal Antibody Treatment Results

Relief is within reach.

For eosinophilic and similar inflammatory diseases, antibody therapies have been developed that target and reduce eosinophils in the body. These therapies have proven to be much safer and more effective than steroids, which have been the mainstay of treatment for these conditions for decades. Our practice has seen incredible results with these and other targeted treatment options. While it’s impossible to predict precisely how you will respond to treatment, we are confident that we can help you find relief.

Inflammatory / Eosinophilic Disease

Frequently Asked Questions

How can eosinophilic disease be cured permanently?

For many eosinophilic conditions, we do not know whether antibody therapies will cure or result in permanent remission of the disease. Certainly, the treatments are generally more effective and safe than alternative therapy, such as steroids. Further, with precise and timely treatment, we will likely be able to prevent permanent damage and free you from unwanted symptoms.

Can you treat eosinophilic disease with antihistamines?

Antihistamines can help with itchy nose or skin reactions, but are not used to treat inflammatory or eosinophilic conditions.

Eosinophilic Diseases in San Diego, CA

Don't Let Inflammatory and Eosinophilic Diseases Get the Best of You

What are eosinophilic diseases?

Reduce Inflammation Using Holistic and Personalized Approaches

Additional Reading

What is Hypereosinophilic Syndrome (HES)

Currently Enrolling - Hypereosinophilic Syndrome (HES)

What are monoclonal antibody treatments?

Additional Reading

Am I a good candidate for inflammatory disease testing?

Your Inflammatory / Eosinophilic Disease Testing Process

Inflammatory / Eosinophilic Disease Recovery

Your Individualized Path to Optimal Health

Monoclonal Antibody Treatment Results

Schedule your San Diego inflammatory / eosinophilic disease consultation with Modena Allergy + Asthma today

Inflammatory / Eosinophilic Disease

How can eosinophilic disease be cured permanently?

Can you treat eosinophilic disease with antihistamines?

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