title: Double-blind placebo-controlled food challenges in children with alleged cow's milk allergy: prevention of unnecessary elimination diets and determination of eliciting doses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Children with cow's milk allergy (CMA) need a cow's milk protein (CMP) free diet to prevent allergic reactions. For this, reliable allergy-information on the label of food products is essential to avoid products containing the allergen. On the other hand, both overzealous labeling and misdiagnosis that result in unnecessary elimination diets, can lead to potentially hazardous health situations. Our objective was to evaluate if excluding CMA by double-blind placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC) prevents unnecessary elimination diets in the long term. Secondly, to determine the minimum eliciting dose (MED) for an acute allergic reaction to CMP in DBPCFC positive children.
  
  
  METHODS
  All children with suspected CMA under our care (Oct'05-Jun'09) were prospectively enrolled in a DBPCFC. Placebo and verum feedings were administered on two randomly assigned separate days. The MED was determined by noting the 'lowest observed adverse effect level' (LOAEL) in DBPCFC-positive children. Based on the outcomes of the DBPCFC a dietary advice was given. Parents were contacted by phone several months later about the diet of their child.
  
  
  RESULTS
  116 children were available for analysis. In 76 children CMA was rejected. In 60 of them CMP was successfully reintroduced, in 2 the parents refused introduction, in another 3 the parents stopped reintroduction. In 9 children CMA symptoms reappeared. In 40 children CMA was confirmed. Infants aged ≤ 12 months in our study group have a higher cumulative distribution of MED than older children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Excluding CMA by DBPCFC successfully stopped unnecessary elimination diets in the long term in most children. The MEDs form potential useful information for offering dietary advice to patients and their caretakers.
authors: Department Pediatrics, Jeroen Bosch Hospital, PO Box 90153, 5200 ME, `s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands.
authors: Wendy M
authors: WM
authors: Dambacher
authors: Ellen H M
authors: EH
authors: de Kort
authors: W Marty
authors: WM
authors: Blom
authors: Geert F
authors: GF
authors: Houben
authors: Esther
authors: E
authors: de Vries
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008892:Milk; D016269:Milk Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens
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