Table 2.
Fecal calprotectin, IgA and β-defensin 2 levels in young children (n = 57) with gastrointestinal symptoms suggestive of non-IgE cow’s milk allergy
| Cow’s milk free diet | Cow’s milk challenge† | p-value | Controls (n = 22) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fecal calprotectin (μg/g) |
CMA positive (n = 18) |
52 [33–86]* |
60 [30–122] |
0.5995 |
25 [13–50] |
| CMA negative (n = 39) |
28 [21–36]* |
33 [24–44] |
0.4674 |
||
| p-value |
|
*0.0203
|
0.0737 |
|
|
| Fecal IgA (g/l) |
CMA positive (n = 18) |
0.54 [0.37–0.79] |
0.48 [0.36–0.62] |
0.4509 |
0.33 [0.22–0.51] |
| CMA negative (n = 39) |
0.46 [0.35–0.61] |
0.45 [0.36–0.55] |
0.3138 |
||
| p-value |
|
0.6349 |
0.8086 |
|
|
| Fecal β-defensin2 (ng/ml) |
CMA positive (n = 18) |
38.6 [19.6–75.7] |
47.50 [23.1–97.8] |
0.1354 |
20.8 [8.6–50.0] |
| CMA negative (n = 39) |
22.4 [14.5–34.6] |
31.12 [20.5–47.3] |
0.1144 |
||
| p-value | 0.1976 | 0.2520 |
Cow’s milk allergy was diagnosed with the double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge. Values in table are geometric means [95% Confidence Interval of the mean].
*Mann–Whitney test p-values reported between the two patients groups. Values below 0.05 are considered significant.
† Fecal samples taken 3–5 days after start of cow’s milk containing challenge formula.