Markers of inflammation in the feces of infants with cow's milk allergy

作者：Kristiina Mertta Saarinen, Annikki Sarnesto, Erkki Savilahti · 发表于：Pediatric Allergy and Immunology · 年份：2002 · DOI：10.1034/j.1399-3038.2002.01027.x · 被引用次数：42 · 研究领域：Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Research、Eosinophilic Esophagitis、Asthma and respiratory diseases

Growing evidence exists that exposure to cow's milk elicits inflammation in the gut of infants with cow's milk allergy, irrespective of symptoms. To demonstrate inflammation and increased protein leakage from the gut during a cow's milk elimination-challenge test in fecal samples of infants presenting with different symptoms suggestive of cow's milk allergy, we measured the concentrations of alpha1-antitrypsin (AT), eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), immunoglobulin (Ig) A, and cow's milk-specific IgA antibodies, in fecal samples of 208 infants with a mean age of 7 months. Prechallenge samples were collected after a mean 3-week elimination period, and post-challenge samples were obtained 4 days after starting the challenge. Fecal levels of prechallenge total IgA (p = 0.02) and post-challenge AT (p = 0.001) were higher in infants with a positive challenge. Of these infants, pre- and post-challenge levels of ECP were higher in those reacting after 24 h than in those reacting within 1 h (p = 0.006 and p = 0.045). Prechallenge levels of ECP were higher in those showing intestinal symptoms (p = 0.008), and both pre- and post-challenge levels of total IgA were higher in those with an IgE-mediated reaction to cow's milk (p = 0.04 and p = 0.008). Regardless of the challenge result, total IgA increased during the challenge (p < 0.001 for both challenge-positive and -negative infants) and was higher in those breast-fed until the challenge than in those fed formula only (p < 0.01). Hence...