Practical interest of both skin prick test and specific IgE in the evaluation of tolerance acquisition in IgE mediated cow's milk allergy (CMA). A clinical retrospective study in a cohort of 184 children

BackgroundCow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) represents one of the leading causes of food allergy in infants and young children. The immune reaction may be IgE mediated, non-IgE mediated, or mixed. IgE-mediated cow's milk protein allergy is revealed by immediate and acute symptoms which can be severe. The aim of this study is to report a one centre experience in the real life of testing children with IgE-mediated CMPA and try to identify predictive factor for follow-up challenges.MethodRetrospective and monocentric study between September 1997 and February 2008. 178 infants diagnosed with IgE-mediated CMPA during breastfeeding weaning were included. Initial factors such as age, sex, skin prick tests (SPTs), specific IgE (sIgE), atopic dermatitis and types of reaction were noted. Between 12 and 24 months all infants have undergone at least one evaluation including SPT.ResultsAt the food challenge, 138 (75.8%) infants were found tolerant. Results of the skin prick test (SPT) were statistically different according to the food challenge result (2.2 mm vs. 5.1 mm, p < 0.0001). It was the same result for sIgE for CM 2.0 ku/l vs. 11.5 ku/l – p < 0.0001 and for casein 1.0 ku/l vs. 16.0 ku/l – p = 0.0014.ConclusionThis study confirms the practical interest of both SPT and sIgE in the evaluation of tolerance induction in IgE-mediated CMPA, but with no corresponding results. Sensitivity, specificity and probability curves of success for cow's milk challenge can be determined and have clinical utility.