<div>
<i>Background:</i> The effect of race, age, sex, atopy,
environmental exposures, and social determinants of health on total
serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) has not been examined in children with food
allergy. <i>Method:</i> We conducted a cross-sectional analysis
with univariable and multivariable linear mixed effect models of data
from 398 African American and European American children 0-12 years with
allergist-diagnosed food allergy from the multi-center, observational
cohort FORWARD; total serum IgE in kU/L was the primary outcome measure.
<i>Results:</i> Total serum IgE positively associated with
African American race ( <i>p</i> &lt; .0001), older age (
<i>p</i> &lt; .0001), male sex ( <i>p</i> =. 0142), lower
household income ( <i>p</i> = .0051), lower parent/caregiver education (
<i>p</i> = .0051), allergic rhinitis ( <i>p</i> &lt; .0001),
asthma ( <i>p</i> &lt; .0001), eczema ( <i>p</i> = .0240), and a
higher number of food allergies ( <i>p</i> &lt; .0001), but not
tobacco smoke exposure. After covariate adjustment in multivariable
analysis, total serum IgE remained higher in African American than
European American ( <i>p</i> &lt; .0001), older than younger (
<i>p</i> &lt; .0001), and male than female children and in
children with allergic rhinitis ( <i>p</i> = .0083), asthma ( <i>p</i>
&lt; .0001), eczema ( <i>p</i> = .0140), and a higher number of
food allergies ( <i>p</i> &lt; .0001).
<i>Conclusions:</i> We provide foundational data that total
serum IgE varies by race in children with food allergy; values were
higher in African American than European American children, independent
of atopic status. These findings call attention to the need to establish
race-dependent values of total serum IgE for diagnostic and therapeutic
purposes.</div>