Retrospective study identified fish and milk as the main culprits in cases of food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome

Abstract

Aim: Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) is a non-immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated food allergy, which is confined to the gastrointestinal tract and occurs most frequently in the first year of life. Our aim was to examine the clinical features, causative agents and outcomes of Greek children with FPIES.

Methods: This was a five-year (2013-2017) retrospective study, based on chart reviews of 78 children with FPIES from six Greek paediatric allergy centres.

Results: Only five children needed an oral food challenge (OFC) for diagnosis, but 54 children (69%) had OFCs to monitor tolerance development. The most common problems were fish and milk, which affected affecting 42 (54%) and 25 (35%) of children, respectively. The median age of tolerance based on the results of the negative OFCs occurred by 34.0 (26.6-58.4) months. Fish and milk were tolerated by 24 (57%) and 13 (52%) of children by 43.8 and 24.3 months, respectively. Coexisting IgE sensitisation to the offending food was related to delayed tolerance.

Conclusion: Fish and milk were the most common food allergies in our series of Greek children with FPIES. Cases with IgE sensitisation to the food trigger took longer to resolve their allergies.

Keywords: Fish allergy; Food allergies; Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome; Immunoglobulin E; Milk allergy.