[Digestive intolerance to cow's milk proteins in infants. Biological and histological study]

Biological and histological studies were performed in 42 cases of gastro-intestinal intolerance to cow's milk proteins. Hypoproteinemia was present in 2/3 of the cases, anemia in 3/4. Malabsorption syndrome (steatorrhea, xylose) was overt in less than 1 patient out of 2. Serum level of vitamin A was more frequently depressed than that of vitamin E and folinic acid. Intestinal biopsy, performed in 32 children, showed consistent abnormalities, a partial atrophy of the villi being most often seen (26 cases). Eosinophilia was present in 50% of the cases. A titer of anti-milk agglutinins of 1/64 or above was always found if the test was performed repeatedly when the diet of the children contained milk. Lymphocyte proliferation in culture, induced by milk proteins, was positive in 70% of the cases. None the less, no biological or histological findings were found to be specific for gastro-intestinal intolerance to milk proteins.