Acute pancreatitis associated with milk allergy.

We are reporting the case of a 23-yr-old patient who had recurring episodes of acute pancreatitis characterized by the typical abdominal pain, elevated serum levels of pancreatic enzymes, and enlargement of the pancreas and edema on sonogram. These episodes were accompanied by facial erythema with conjunctival injection, generalized pruritus, diarrhea, and eosinophilia, and they were induced by the consumption of milk. The serum levels of IgE specific to cow milk proteins and to beta-lactoglobulin were increased. We suggest that these episodes are caused by a milk allergy (milk), that has been described as an unusual cause of acute pancreatitis.     

Treatment of severe cow's milk protein allergy using Neocate

A hydrolysate of proteins is considered to be adapted to treatment of allergy to cow's milk proteins when it is tolerated by 90% of allergic children. This suggestion implies that 10% of the children who are allergic to cow's milk proteins do not tolerate the preparations based on hydrolysates of proteins and presupposes the case of intolerance or allergy henceforth widely reported. The diagnosis must mention before the existence or the persistence in an infant fed with a hydrolysate of proteins of non-specific clinical signs often attached to more frequent pathologies, such as gastro-oesophageal reflux or colic. Substitution of a hydrolysate by another is one alternative, but the level of residual peptides of protein hydrolysates explains only the cases of severe allergy, the child may show reactions to these residual epitopes. The alternative is use of a formulation based on amino-acids, which allows diagnosis by an elimination-provocation test of protein hydrolysate. An elementary formulation based on amino-acids may permit to await the period of acquisition of tolerance.     

Nutritional status and food intake of children with cow's milk allergy

Introduction and objectivesCow's milk allergy (CMA) is common, especially in children. The treatment is based on the exclusion of milk and dairy products and guidance regarding the exclusion diet. This study aimed to compare the anthropometric measurements and food intake of children with CMA with those of healthy controls, and to evaluate the serum concentrations of Vitamin A and 25(OH)D in children with CMA.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study with 27 children in the CMA group and 30 in the control group. z-Scores of body mass index and height, skinfolds, food intake and serum concentrations of retinol, beta-carotene, lycopene, 25(OH)D, parathyroid hormone and high sensitivity C-reactive protein were evaluated.ResultsMean age was four years (±1.9). The CMA group evidenced a lower height compared to those from the control group (p = 0.0043). The CMA group showed a lower intake of calcium (p = 0.0033) and lipids (p = 0.0123). Low serum concentrations of retinol, beta-carotene, lycopene, 25(OH)D were found in 25.9%, 59.3%, 48.1% and 70.3% of the CMA group, respectively.ConclusionsChildren with CMA consume smaller amounts of calcium and lipids and have shorter height compared to healthy controls. Insufficient levels of vitamins A and D were frequent in the CMA group, emphasizing the need for nutritional guidance and monitoring.     

In vitro methods for specific IgE detection in cow's milk allergy

BackgroundA new method for determining serum specific IgE (IMMULITE^® 2000 3gAllergy) has recently become available.ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical performance of IMMULITE 2000 in the diagnosis of cow's milk allergy compared with that of UniCAP^®. Additionally, we verified the behavior of both methods at two diagnostic decision points proposed by other authors.MethodsThe study population consisted of 31 children with cow's milk allergy (group A) and a control group of 19 atopic children without food allergy (group B). A blood sample from each child was tested using both methods and the results were compared.ResultsIn group A, the values for cow's milk IgE ranged from 0.35 kU/L (the lowest common detection limit) to above 100 kU/L. In group B, the values were less than 1.1 kU/L for IMMULITE 2000 and less than 1.6 kU/L for UniCAP. An agreement of 90 % in IgE classes was obtained. Both methods demonstrated exactly the same diagnostic performance (sensitivity: 100 %; specificity: 78.9 %; negative predictive value: 100 %; positive predictive value: 84.6%; efficiency: 90.2 %). The evaluation of the two methods at the two different decision points proposed in the literature showed a better positive predictive value with UniCAP, but we obtained equivalent performance with IMMULITE 2000 by choosing higher cutoff values.ConclusionsWe conclude that IMMULITE 2000 is as effective as UniCAP in the diagnosis of cow's milk allergy. Both methods can be used to obtain site-specific decision points that are population, age and disease dependent.     

Use of an amino-acid-based formula in the treatment of cow's milk protein allergy and multiple food allergy syndrome

Food allergy to cow's milk proteins (APLV) is frequently found in young infants. Treatment is by starting an elimination diet. Different substitution products have been proposed: soya milk, partial hydrolysate of the proteins of lactoserum, powdered casein hydrolysate, hydrolysed soya and pork collagen. Allergic reactions to soya milk, hydrolysates of lactoserum proteins, powdered casein hydrolysates and hydrolysates of soya have been described. The study that we present evaluates the effect on the natural development of these allergies of a formula based on amino-acids (Neocate) in 26 patients who presented a syndrome of multiple allergies one of which was a food allergy to milk. Twenty-five of them had a severe atopic dermatitis, isolated (14 cases), or associated with gastro-intestinal troubles (6) break in the growth curve (5), anaphylactic reactions (2), one asthma (1). One child had a chronic diarrhoea associated with a weight plateau. Evaluation 2 or 3 months later showed a significant improvement of the atopic dermatitis. Return of the stature-weight growth was noted in 4 children from 5, the check in one was reported as due to a initially unrecognised allergy to gluten. The recovery of the APLV was shown by double-blind oral provocation test in 20/23 children between 11 and 37 months (22 +/- 9). Duration of administration of Neonate was between 6 to 19 months (12 + 5) months. This study confirmed the beneficial effect of the amino-acid formula on weight gain, gastro-intestinal troubles and development of atopic dermatitis. The level of recovery of APLV of 86% at the age of 2 years is better than that reported in the syndrome of multiple food allergies of 22%. The influence of this diet on the development of other food allergies remains to be evaluated.     

Cow's milk protein allergy: An entity for recognition in developing countries

Aim:  The aim of this prospective study was to determine cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) cases in a tertiary care hospital in India and to study its clinical presentations and outcome following treatment.
Methods:  Consecutive children with chronic diarrhea from June 2004 to December 2007 were evaluated with hemogram, anti-endomysial antibody, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, sigmoidoscopy and intestinal biopsies. Initial diagnosis of CMPA was based on characteristic intestinal biopsy (> 6 eosinophils/HPF) and diagnosis was confirmed by positive milk challenge.
Results:  Forty CMPA cases (25 boys, with a mean age of 17.2 ± 7.8 months and symptom duration of 8.3 ± 6.2 months) presented with diarrhea (bloody in 16, watery in 16, combined in three, recurrent hematemesis in two, rectal bleeding in one and one case each with pain in the abdomen with vomiting and anemia with occult bleeding). Sigmoidoscopy revealed aphthous ulcers in 82% of cases and rectal biopsy was positive in 97% of cases. All children improved on a milk-free diet. Milk challenge was positive in 100% of cases when it was done early (within 6 months). On follow up of 15 ± 9 months, milk was successfully restarted in 25 cases after a median milk-free period of 15 months, 10 were still on a milk-free diet and five were lost to follow up while on a milk-free diet.
Conclusions:  CMPA is not uncommon in a developing country such as India. Presence of aphthous ulcers and abnormal rectal biopsy are clues to initial diagnosis. Milk challenge confirms the diagnosis in all if it is done on time.     

Cow's milk protein allergy. A multi-centre study: clinical and epidemiological aspects

BackgroundDue to the age when it becomes apparent and the treatment needed, cow's milk proteins (CMP) allergy requires an accurate diagnosis to avoid labelling infants falsely as allergic and subjecting them to unnecessary diets. The objective of this multi-centre study carried out at the Allergy Units of 14 Children's Hospitals was to discover the epidemiological, clinical and evolutionary characteristics of cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA).Methods and resultsInfants suspected of CMPA who attended allergy clinics at the hospitals taking part during the study period were studied and a detailed clinical history was collected on all of them. Prick tests were done with cow's milk and its proteins and specific IgE anti-bodies were determined by means of CAP with the same allergens as the Prick test. The challenge test with cow's milk was carried out unless contraindicated by the diagnostic protocol. Two different challenge regimens were used: one of them carried out in 3 days and the other in one day.409 infants with suspected CMPA were included and the diagnostic challenge test was performed on 286 patients (70 %) and not carried out on 123, as it was not indicated according to the protocol. IgE-mediated allergy was confirmed in 234 infants (58 %) and in 15 (4 %) non-IgE-mediated hypersensitivity was diagnosed. The two challenge regimens were equally secure. The average age when the reaction to cow's milk formula took place was 3.5 months (10 days-10 months). The symptoms appeared in the first week of introduction in 95 % of cases and appeared in 60 % with the first feeding with the formula. The most frequent clinical signs were cutaneous in 94 % of cases and the majority of cases appeared within 30 minutes of the feed. 99 % had been breast fed and 44 % had received some cow's milk supplement during the lactation period. Sensitization to egg not given in the feed was noted in 30 % and to beef in 29 %, being well tolerated in all of these.ConclusionsCarrying out an appropriate diagnostic protocol in infants attending for suspected CMPA allows allergy to be ruled out in a high percentage of cases.     

Oral immunotherapy for IgE-mediated cow's milk allergy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Cow's milk is a common cause of food allergy in children. Children usually outgrow cow's milk allergy by the age of 3-5?years, but some will have persistent symptoms beyond childhood. We performed a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies to assess the evidence supporting the use of oral immunotherapy in IgE-mediated cow's milk allergy to inform the World Allergy Organization guidelines. Of 1034 screened articles published until May 2011, five RCTs and five observational studies fulfilled a priori specified inclusion criteria. RCTs including 218 patients showed that oral immunotherapy, compared to elimination diet alone, increased the likelihood of achieving full tolerance of cow's milk [relative risk: 10.0 (95% CI: 4.1-24.2)]. Adverse effects of immunotherapy include frequent local symptoms (16% of doses), mild laryngospasm [relative risk: 12.9 (1.7-98.6)], mild asthma [rate ratio: 3.8 (2.9-5.0)], reactions requiring oral glucocorticosteroids [relative risk: 11.3 (2.7-46.5)] or intramuscular epinephrine injection [rate ratio 5.8 (1.6-21.9)]. Results of observational studies were consistent with those of RCTs. Despite the availability of RCTs, the overall low quality of evidence leaves important uncertainty about anticipated effects of immunotherapy due to very serious imprecision of the estimates of effects and the likelihood of publication bias for some of the critical outcomes. A potentially large benefit of oral immunotherapy in patients with cow's milk allergy may be counterbalanced by frequent and sometimes serious adverse effects. Additional, larger RCTs measuring all patient-important outcomes are still needed.     

Yogurt is tolerated by the majority of children with IgE-mediated cow's milk allergy

BackgroundChildren with IgE-mediated cow's milk allergy (IgE-CMA) with gastrointestinal symptoms tolerate yogurt at 100%. Yogurt tolerance in children with IgE-CMA with urticaria and anaphylaxis was 7%.MethodsWe enrolled children with IgE-CMA with cutaneous, respiratory, gastrointestinal and anaphylactic symptoms. All performed prick by prick (PbP) and oral food challenge (OFC) with yogurt. Some children performed also an OFC with CM mixed with wheat flour and baked, baked liquid CM, parmesan.Results34 children were enrolled, 31/34 (91%) with systemic adverse reaction after ingestion of CM (systemic CMA), 3/34 (9%) with isolated contact urticaria (ICU CMA). PbP with yogurt was negative only in one patient. OFC with yogurt was passed (that is, the OFC was negative) by 20/31 (64%) of the children with systemic CMA. 10/11 (91%) of the patients who failed OFC (that is, the OFC was positive) with yogurt were positive to SPT with casein vs. 8/20 (40%) of the patients who passed it (p = 0.018). None of the 19 children who passed OFC with yogurt failed all OFC with processed CM forms other than yogurt that tested vs. 4/8 among those who failed OFC with yogurt (p = 0.006). The rub test with yogurt was negative in 1/3 (33%) of the patients with ICU CMA.ConclusionsThe results of our study are placed alongside others already present in the literature and concerning other methods of processing CM proteins and help to reduce the dietary restrictions of the majority of children with systemic IgE-CMA.