Abstract
Eight infants with cow's milk intolerance (CMI) were studied for basal and maximal gastric acid secretion and the fasting serum gastrin level. All these patients had clinical malabsorption. Jejunal biopsies revealed subtotal villous atrophy in six children and slight changes in the remaining two.
The mean maximal acid secretion in the infants with CMI was significantly decreased, being 85±78 μmol/h/kg (mean ± SD), as compared with a control group of the same age with a corresponding value of 233±66 μmol/h/kg. The fasting serum gastrin level was elevated, being 104±116 pmol/l in the study group and 37±10 in the controls.
Three infants with CMI underwent gastric biopsy. Marked changes with epithelial degeneration and prominent cellularity in the lamina propria were seen in two patients. The injury was most severe in the antrum of the stomach.
When these patients with CMI were treated with human or soy milk, the maximal acid secretion returned normal in six months.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Caldwell, J. H., Tennenbaum, J. I., Bronstein, H. A.: Serum IgE in eosinophilic gastroenteritis. Response to intestinal challenge in two cases. N. Engl. J. Med. 292, 1388–1390 (1975)
Ferguson, A.: Models of intestinal hypersensitivity. Clinics in Gastroent. 5, 271–288 (1976)
Halpin, T. C., Byrne, W. J., Ament, M. E.: Colitis, persistent diarrhea, and soy protein intolerance. J. Pediatr. 91, 404–407 (1977)
Harrison, M., Kilby, A., Walker-Smith, J. A., France, N. E., Wood, C. B. S.: Cow's milk protein intolerance: a possible association with gastroenteritis, lactose intolerance and IgA deficiency. Br. J. Med. 1, 1501–1504 (1976)
Katz, A. J., Goldman, H., Grand, R. J.: Gastric mucosal biopsy in eosinophilic (allergic) gastroenteritis. Gastroenterol. 73, 705–709 (1977)
Kokkonen, J., Similä, S., Herva, R.: Gastrointestinal findings in atopic children. (To be published)
Kokkonen, J., Similä, S.: Gastric function and absorption of vitamin B 12 in children with celiac disease. Eur. J. Pediatr. 1979 (in press)
Kuitunen, P., Visakorpi, J. K., Savilahti, E., Pelkonen, P.: Malabsorption syndrome with cow's milk intolerance. Clinical findings and course in 54 cases. Arch. Dis. Childh. 50, 351–356 (1975)
Matthews, T. S., Soothill, J. F.: Complement activation after milk feeding in children with cow's milk allergy. Lancet 1970 II, 893–895
O'Donoghue, D. P., Lancaster-Smith, M., Johnson, Q. D., Kumar, P. J.: Gastric lesion in dermatitis herpetiformis. Gut 17, 185–188 (1976)
Shiner, M., Ballard, J., Smith, M. E.: The small-intestinal mucosa in cow's milk allergy. Lancet 1975 I, 136–140
Strickland, R. G., Bhathal, P. S., Korman, M. G., et al.: Serum gastrin and the antral mucosa in atrophic gastritis. Br. J. Med. 4, 451–453 (1971)
Walker, W. A.: Antigen handling by the gut. Arch. Dis. Childh. 53, 527–531 (1978)
Walker-Smith, J.: Cow's milk protein intolerance. Transient food intolerance of infancy. Arch. Dis. Childh. 50, 347–350 (1975)
Widerlite, L., Trier, J. S., Blacklow, N. R., et al.: Structure of the gastric nucosa in acute infectious non-bacterial gastroenteritis. Gastroent. 68, 425–430 (1975)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kokkonen, J., Similä, S. & Herva, R. Impaired gastric function in children with cow's milk intolerance. Eur J Pediatr 132, 1–6 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00443197
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00443197