Background: We have evaluated the prognosis of milk allergy and the related factors.
Methods: Patients with milk allergy (n=60) who had initially visited our hospital before 2 years old were recruited for the chart review. The ability of milk intake (> 30 ml) at the age of 5 years and the related clinical factors were evaluated.
Results: There were 33 patients (55%) who remained allergic to milk (allergic group) and 27 patients (45%) who could consume at least 30 ml of milk (small amount of milk intake group) by the age of 5 years. The small amount of milk intake group had a history of isolated skin symptoms after ingestion of milk more frequently than the allergic group. On the other hands, the allergic group experienced significantly higher rate of respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms. Milk-specific IgE antibodies were examined repeatedly in each patient, and the IgE titers were significantly decreased by age in the small amount of milk intake group. In the allergic group, however, the maximum milk-specific IgE titers in each patient were significantly higher than those in the small amount of milk intake group, and after significant increase from the age of 0 to 1 years, the IgE titers did not decrease until the age of 3 years.
Conclusions: Respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms followed by milk intake and persistent high milk-specific IgE titers were associated with persistent milk allergy.