Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 25, 2026
Recognition of Epidermal Transglutaminase by IgA and Tissue Transglutaminase 2 Antibodies in a Rare Case of Rhesus Dermatitis
Published on: December 15, 2011
Symptoms suggestive of cow's milk allergy in infancy and pediatric inflammatory bowel disease
Lauri J Virta1, Hannu Kautiainen2,3,4, Kaija-Leena Kolho5
1Research Department, Social Insurance Institution of Finland, Turku, Finland.
Insights
Infants diagnosed with cow's milk allergy (CMA) have an increased risk of developing pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (PIBD). This association suggests shared underlying factors may link CMA and PIBD in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Allergy and Immunology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (PIBD) risk factors are not fully understood.
- Previous studies indicated higher rates of cow's milk allergy (CMA) and asthma in PIBD patients.
- This study investigates the national-level association between CMA and PIBD risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the hypothesis that cow's milk allergy (CMA) is associated with an increased risk of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (PIBD).
Main Methods:
- Utilized a nationwide Finnish birth cohort (n=225,041) born 1999-2002, followed until 2014.
- Identified diagnoses of CMA, asthma, and PIBD using national registers.
- Calculated incidence rates and confidence intervals using Poisson distribution.
Main Results:
- Identified 7,910 infants with CMA (3.5% cumulative incidence by age 2).
- Children with CMA showed a 2.6-fold increased risk of developing PIBD (incidence ratio 2.6; 95% CI 1.7-3.8).
- CMA diagnosis was associated with earlier PIBD onset and a stronger link to ulcerative colitis than Crohn's disease.
Conclusions:
- Cow's milk allergy (CMA) in infancy is linked to a higher risk of developing pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (PIBD) and asthma.
- This association suggests potential shared underlying mechanisms between CMA and PIBD in a subset of patients.
- Children with CMA warrant close monitoring for the development of PIBD.
Background:
Risk factors of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (PIBD) are incompletely understood. Recently, we reported that among patients with PIBD, a previous diagnosis of cow's milk allergy (CMA) and asthma occurred more frequently than among age- and sex-matched peers. We tested at a national level the hypothesis that CMA is associated with the risk of contracting PIBD.
Methods:
A nationwide birth cohort (n = 225,041), including all Finnish children born between 1999 and 2002, was followed up until July 1, 2014. We identified all children with a diagnosis of CMA, asthma, and PIBD from a national register; the data were based on certificates, including diagnostic criteria. The 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the incidence rates per 100,000 person-years were calculated assuming a Poisson distribution.
Results:
We identified 7,910 infants with CMA yielding a cumulative incidence of 3.5% by 2 years of age. The cumulative incidence of PIBD was 0.14% (n = 316) and that of asthma 6.6% (14,807). Children with CMA were more likely to develop PIBD than non-CMA children, incidence ratio 2.6 (95% CI 1.7-3.8). Children with a diagnosis of CMA contracted PIBD at a younger age than the respective non-CMA group (9 vs. 11 years, p < 0.05). The risk was more evident for ulcerative colitis than for Crohn's disease. The association between CMA and asthma was stronger than that between CMA and PIBD.
Conclusions:
CMA in infancy is associated with subsequent development of asthma and PIBD. This suggests that in a subgroup of patients, CMA may share underlying background with PIBD, warranting thorough follow-up.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Diagnostic Studies and Management I-Nutritional Therapy
Diagnostic studies
A colonoscopy is the definitive screening test, distinguishing ulcerative colitis from other colon diseases with similar symptoms. During a colonoscopy test, inflamed mucosa with exudate ulcerations can be observed, and biopsies are taken to determine the histologic characteristics of the...
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by...
01:27Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...
01:17Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
01:17Irritable Bowel Syndrome I: Introduction
IBS is a chronic condition that can persist over a long period or recur frequently.
The pathogenesis of IBS involves a complex interplay of the following factors:
Altered...
01:30Other Disorders of Digestive System