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The Esophageal String Test as a Diagnostic Screening Tool for Eosinophilic Esophagitis Among Africans With Dysphagia in Mali and the United States

NCT07027826 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 70

Last updated 2026-05-22

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Background:

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a disease that causes inflammation in the esophagus. The esophagus is the tube that moves food from the mouth to the stomach. Diagnosing EoE currently requires a specialized tool called an endoscope. The esophageal string test (EST) is another test; the EST collects fluid from the upper digestive tract. An EST is simpler and cheaper than an endoscopy. Researchers want to know if an EST can diagnose EoE.

Objective:

To test if the EST can diagnose EoE in people who have trouble swallowing.

Eligibility:

Adults aged 18 to 65 years with trouble swallowing. They must have been born in the African continent or their parents were born in Africa.

Design:

Participants will be screened. They will give blood, stool, urine, and skin swab samples. They will complete surveys about their medical history, diet, symptoms, and home environment. They will bring a sample of their drinking water for testing.

Participants will have an EST. They will swallow a pill capsule that contains a nylon string. One end of the string will be taped to their cheek. The string will unravel down the esophagus and into the stomach. It will be pulled out after 1 hour. Fluids that soaked into the string will be tested.

At a different visit, participants will have an endoscopic exam. An endoscope is a flexible tube that is inserted down the mouth; it can be used to take tissue samples from the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine.

Participants will have a final visit in person, online, or by phone. They will take a survey and talk about their test results.

Conditions

Interventions

DEVICE

Esophageal string test

The esophageal string test consists of a gelatin or cellulose capsule containing a nylon string. The capsule dissolves allowing the nylon string to absorb esophageal secretions which can be analyzed for various inflammatory mediators.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

    lead NIH

Principal Investigators

  • Gregory M Constantine, M.D. · National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
65 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-05-27
Primary Completion
2027-08-31
Completion
2027-08-31

Countries

  • United States
  • Mali

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Entities

Diseases

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07027826 on ClinicalTrials.gov