Severity scales of non-IgE-mediated gastrointestinal food allergies in neonates and infants.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Non-IgE-mediated gastrointestinal food allergies (non-IgE-GI-FAs) are one type of food allergy found in neonates and infants. Few reports have defined the severity of non-IgE-GI-FAs in these populations.

METHODS:

Grading scales of the severity of non-IgE-GI-FAs according to extra-GI symptoms, such as poor weight gain, as well as systemic symptoms, including fever and shock, were developed and retrospectively applied to patients with non-IgE-GI-FAs. The relationship between the severity of non-IgE-GI-FAs and both clinical and laboratory findings were examined.

RESULTS:

Elevation of C-reactive protein levels and a decrease in total protein and albumin were observed in accordance with allergy severity. In an endoscopic examination, inflammatory findings were confirmed in large areas of the colonic mucosa in case of higher severity levels, and infiltration of inflammatory cells other than eosinophils was found in the severest grade. Extensively hydrolyzed milk or amino acid-based milk was required for all patients with the severest grade. In addition, the timing of acquiring tolerance tended to be late for this grade.

CONCLUSIONS:

Classification and determination of the severity of non-IgE-GI-FAs in neonates and infants may not only contribute to elucidation of the pathogenesis but may also be useful in the clinical setting.

• Authors: Hisako Yagi, Takumi Takizawa, Koichiro Sato, Takaharu Inoue, Yutaka Nishida, Takashi Ishige, Maiko Tatsuki, Reiko Hatori, Yasuko Kobayashi, Yoshiyuki Yamada, Hirokazu Arakawa
• Journal: Allergology international : official journal of the Japanese Society of Allergology (Allergol Int) Vol. 68 Issue 2 Pg. 178-184 (Apr 2019) ISSN: 1440-1592 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 30253946 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2019 Japanese Society of Allergology. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Immunoglobulin E
• C-Reactive Protein

Topics

• C-Reactive Protein (analysis)
• Colon (pathology)
• Endoscopy
• Female
• Food Hypersensitivity (blood, diagnosis, diet therapy, pathology)
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin E (blood)
• Infant
• Infant, Newborn
• Intestinal Mucosa (pathology)
• Male
• Severity of Illness Index