title: An in vitro test for cows' milk protein intolerance?
abstract: The clinical features and results of standard laboratory investigations have been studied in children with cows' milk protein intolerance and the results compared with an in vitro test, examining the degranulation of peripheral blood basophils to cows' milk antigen. Of 67 children investigated, 26 had probable intolerance to cows' milk, and maximal basophil degranulation responses in these children were significantly increased (p less than 0.01). The most striking differences were those observed between children with definite cows' milk protein intolerance and control individuals (p less than 0.002). Of 14 children with definite cows' milk intolerance clinically, only 4 had negative responses. The basophil degranulation test may be a valuable, simple and inexpensive investigation in the diagnosis of cows' milk protein intolerance and perhaps also in other conditions in which food sensitivity plays a part.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D001491:Basophils / Q000276:immunology; D002417:Cattle; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000276:immunology; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007159:Immunologic Tests / Q000379:methods*; D007223:Infant; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D008894:Milk Proteins