Manifestations of pediatric Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) are varied and dictated by multiple factors. The influence of race is limited to small observational cohorts of dichotomized data (Caucasians v. non-Caucasians) or single racial analysis.
Our analysis aims to better understand the phenotypic variability in the manifestation and atopic sensitization of pediatric EoE, from the perspective of race.
Retrospective observational cohort study performed at a tertiary referral center. Subjects were included if 15 eosinophils/hpf) confirmation of EoE. Statistical computation was performed using StataIC 11 on variables of interest.
Thirty-four subjects were included in analysis. The median [IQR] age for initial atopy was 2 [1,5] years. The median [IQR] age for EoE diagnosis was 5 [3,8] years. Age of EoE diagnosis was higher for Black/African-Americans compared to non-Black/African-Americans (p = 0.012). Between the racial groups there was no difference in the total number of food sensitizations (0 = 0.139), yet environmental allergy testing demonstrated that Black/African-Americans were more likely to be sensitized for weeds (p = 0.037), dog (p = 0.009) and mold (p = 0.006). On histopathological analysis, Black/African-American subjects were found to have more prominent mid-esophageal eosinophilia at median 50/hpf [20,80/hpf], while Hispanic/LatinXs have more prominent lower-esophageal eosinophilia at median 40/hpf [IQR 20,40/hpf], compared to other races; p = 0.048 and p = 0.044 respectively.
Black/African-Americans are more likely to present at an older age, have aeroallergen sensitization and more prominent mid-esophageal eosinophilia.

Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.

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