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Background & Aims We evaluated the efficacy and safety of high-dose swallowed fluticasone propionate (FP) and dose reduction in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and analyzed esophageal transcriptomes to identify mechanisms. Methods We conducted a randomized, multisite, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of daily 1760 mcg FP in participants 3–30 years old with active EoE. Twenty-eight participants received FP and 14 received placebo. After 3 months, participants given FP who were in complete remission (CR) received 880 mcg FP daily, and participants in the FP or placebo groups who were not in CR continued or started, respectively, 1760 mcg FP daily for 3 additional months. The primary endpoint was histologic evidence for CR. Secondary endpoints were partial remission (PR), symptoms, compliance, esophageal gene expression, esophageal eosinophil count, and the relationship between clinical features and FP responsiveness. Results After 3 months, 65% of subjects given FP and no subjects given placebo were in CR (P=.0001); 12% of those given FP and 8% of those given placebo were in PR. In the FP group, 73% of subjects remained in CR and 20% were in PR after the daily dose was reduced by 50%. Extending FP therapy in FP-resistant participants did not induce remission. FP decreased heartburn severity (P=.041). Compliance, age, sex, atopic status, or anthropomorphic features were not associated with response to FP. Gene expression patterns in esophageal tissues of FP responders were similar to those of patients without EoE; there was evidence for heterogeneous steroid signaling in subjects that did not respond to FP. Conclusions Daily administration of a high dose of FP induces histologic remission in 65%–77% of patients with EoE after 3 months. A 50% dose reduction remained effective in 73%–93% of patients that initially responded to FP. Nonresponders had evidence of steroid resistance; histologic and molecular markers may predict resistance. Clinicaltrials.gov number: NCT00426283

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