Serum Antibodies to Cow's Milk Proteins in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Crohn's Disease vs. Ulcerative Colitis

Abstract
Serum antibodies to five cow''s milk proteins, .alpha.-casein, bovine serum albumin (BSA), .beta.-lactoglobulin A and B (BLG-a, BLG-b) and .alpha.-lactalbumin (ALA) were investigated in young patients with inflammatory bowel disease, 56 with Crohn''s disease (CD), 24 with ulcerative colitis (UC). IgG antibodies against BSA and BLG-a and 0b were higher in Crohn''s disease patients as compared to those with ulcerative colitis and controls. The IgG anti-BSA were higher in the group of CD patients with higher score of disease activity. Additionally, IgA antibodies to increased uptake of dietary antigens or enhanced immunological response occurring in CD patients.