Specific IgE against milk allergens in children with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

Cow's milk has been considered as a possible trigger of the autoimmune response that destroys pancreatic B-cells, thus causing insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. We investigated 46 children with IDDM. In this group we showed an increased total IgE in 58.6% of cases and the presence of specific IgE antibodies induced by milk allergens in 32.5% of cases. These results suggests that antibodies probably play an important role in IDDM pathogenesis.