Racial disparity in eosinophilic esophagitis from a single, defined population

Abstract

Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an immune-mediated disease of the esophagus characterized by esophageal eosinophilia and symptoms of esophageal dysmotility. 1 Liacouras C.A. Furuta G.T. Hirano I. et al. Eosinophilic esophagitis: updated consensus recommendations for children and adults. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2011; 128: 3 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (1546) Google Scholar , 2 Assa’ad A.H. Putnam P.E. Collins M.H. et al. Pediatric patients with eosinophilic esophagitis: an 8-year follow-up. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007; 119: 731-738 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (272) Google Scholar Studies have attempted to define the epidemiology of the disease, with most reports suggesting EoE has a predominance in white individuals. 2 Assa’ad A.H. Putnam P.E. Collins M.H. et al. Pediatric patients with eosinophilic esophagitis: an 8-year follow-up. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2007; 119: 731-738 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (272) Google Scholar , 3 Franciosi J.P. Tam V. Liacouras C.A. Spergel J.M. A case–control study of sociodemographic and geographic characteristics of 335 children with eosinophilic esophagitis. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2009; 7: 415-419 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (96) Google Scholar , 4 Sperry S.L. Woosley J.T. Shaheen N.J. Dellon E.S. Influence of race and gender on the presentation of eosinophilic esophagitis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2012; 107: 215-221 Crossref PubMed Scopus (76) Google Scholar However, a few recent studies have shed light on this disease in the African American population. 5 Weiler T. Mikhail I. Singal A. Sharma H. Racial differences in the clinical presentation of pediatric eosinophilic esophagitis. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2014; 2: 320-325 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (23) Google Scholar , 6 Gill R.K. Al-Subu A. Elitsur Y. et al. Prevalence and characteristics of eosinophilic esophagitis in 2 ethnically distinct pediatric populations. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2014; 133: 576-577 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (10) Google Scholar These reports have suggested that the disease may have different clinical presentations between racially distinct populations and that the incidence in the African American population may be higher than reported from prior studies. It is difficult to know whether there is truly a racial disparity in the prevalence of the disease.