Sociodemographic Characteristics and Clinical Associations Among Children Diagnosed With Eosinophilic Esophagitis in Hawaii

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racial disparities exist in the clinical presentation or endoscopic appearance of pediatric patients (age 15 eosinophils/HPF). Methods: Retrospective examination of pediatric patients with >15 eosinophils/HPF on esophageal biopsy from 2000-2007 at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. Data was gathered from a pathology database searching key word “eosinophils”. The slides were reviewed by a single GI pathologist. Using Temple Hospital's medical record system, we recorded patients' demographics features, presenting symptoms, and endoscopy findings. Statistics were performed using Fisher's Exact Test. Results: Our database identified 34 pediatric patients (62.5% Caucasian (C), 12% African-American, 6% Hispanic) with >15 eos/HPF. Clinical data was found on 32 patients (62.5% C; 81% male). The average age of the Caucasian patients was 8.9 years (range 1-17 years) which was similar to the non-Caucasians average age 7.8 years (range 1-16 years). Patients residence: 47% Philadelphia city limits, 47% Philadelphia suburbs, and 6% New Jersey. 73% in the city of Philadelphia were non-Caucasian (NC). As shown in figure 1, a variety of complaints were seen in C, whereas NC showed a higher percentage of reflux (67%; p=0.14). Endoscopic findings also differed between C and NC as seen in figure 2. The findings of a normal endoscopy, esophagitis, and linear furrowing were more common in NC (33%, 33%, 50%) compared to C (20%, 15%, 35%) (p= 0.43, p= 0.38, p= 0.47)). On the other hand, mucosal plaques were significantly more frequent in C (50%) vs NC (8.3%) (p=0.023). Rings and strictures were not seen in either group. Conclusion: We observed racial differences in the clinical presentation and endoscopic appearance of EoE among pediatric patients. While Caucasians present with a variety of GERD or dysphagia symptoms, non-Caucasian patients presented primarily with GERD symptoms. Caucasian patients had a much higher frequency of mucosal plaques on endoscopy, but other findings did not differ significantly between ethnic groups.