ONE-HOUR BLOOD XYLOSE IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF COWS MILK PROTEIN-SENSITIVE ENTEROPATHY

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 57  (1) , 40-43
Abstract
The 1-h xylose absorption test was evaluated as a method for diagnosing cow milk protein-sensitive enteropathy in a prospective study of 48 infants with diarrhea, clinically suspected to be due to intolerance of cows'' milk. The infants were maintained on a lactose and cow milk protein-free diet for 6-8 wk and then were challenged with cow milk protein. Jejunal biopsies and the 1-h xylose absorption test were performed immediately before and 20-24 h after cows'' milk provocation. After milk provocation, 30 infants had clinical, enzymological and histological relapse and in 28 of them there was a significant depression of postprovocation blood xylose levels. Six infants had histological and enzymological relapse, but clinically, they tolerated cow milk. The postprovocation blood xylose level was depressed in all the infants. Ten infants had enzymological relapse without histological or clinical relapse. The postchallenge blood xylose was significantly depressed (> 20%) in 3, mildly depressed in 3 (16-18%) and not depressed in 4. Two infants clinically, histologically and enzymologically tolerated cows'' milk; in each, the postchallenge xylose was depressed (22%, 12%). The 1-h blood xylose test is not as reliable as the jejunal biopsy in the diagnosis of cows'' milk protein-sensitive enteropathy.