Abstract
IgE, IgG and IgG4 antibodies to casein fractions were studied in 20 infants with chronic diarrhea (CD) and in 19 healthy infants (H). Mean ages were 4.6 months for CD and 5.9 for H. Mean duration of CD was 35 days. Cow milk was started during the 1st month of life in 18 of each group, duration 4.0 mo (CD), 5.1 (H). Seven of 20 CD rectal biopsies revealed colitis. Eighteen of 19 CD had abnormalities in small intestinal biopsies. All CD infants had acidic stools containing reducing substances.
Mean total IgE was higher in CD (22 IU/ml) than in H (3.1 IU/ml, p<.01); total IgG4 values were 87 mg/l in CD and 56 mg/l in H (p>.1). IgE and IgG4, antibodies to all caseins were higher in CD than H (p<.05). IgG antibodies to all proteins were markedly elevated in CD (p<.001). There was no difference in antibodies of CD infants with colitis compared to those without colitis. There was a tendency for antibodies to be higher in CD with severe small bowel changes than in those with mild.
Increased antibodies to caseins in infants with chronic diarrhea could be secondary to increased mucosal permeability or to a heightened primary immune response.
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Almeida, M., Heiner, D., Ferreira, V. et al. IgE, IgG AND IgG4 ANTIBODIES TO α-, β-, AND κ-CASEIN IN INFANTS WITH CHRONIC DIARRHEA. Pediatr Res 21 (Suppl 4), 308 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00845
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198704010-00845
