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1 . 2014

Can cross-allergic reactions to food antigens be the cause of recurrent pancreatitis in children with food allergies?

Abstract

Drug and food allergy in 80% of cases are the cause of duodenal inflammation disrupting the function of the pancreatic ducts. However, in some cases, elimination diet in patients with food allergy does not provide a sufficient effect. The article shows the effect of cross-allergic reactions on recurrent pancreatitis in 28 children with food allergy (mean age 11,7±2,9 years). As an additional diagnostic criterion the coefficient of degranulation of mast cell in the intestinal mucosa (the ratio of degranulated forms to granulated) was determined, through which the effect of crossallergic reactions (between food antigens and drugs of animal origin) on the duration and frequency of exacerbations of chronic pancreatitis in children with food sensitization has been shown. The exception of enzyme preparations for children with sensitization to pork and exception of eubiotics prepared using sucrose-gelatin-milk medium for children with sensitization to cow’s milk and beef led to feel better in a shorter time (2–3 days) and to reduce the frequency of relapses. Catamnesis observation for 3 years showed that the incidence of recurrent exacerbations of the disease in 11 children with excepted cross-allergic reactions in the first year of follow-up was 9,1%, in the second year – 9,1% and in the third year – 0%, while in control group (17 children) the frequency of exacerbations was respectively 23,5; 35,3; 35,3%. In patients of the main group there was a slight overall increase of mast cells in the intestinal mucosa from 211,7 to 230,2 mm 2 (p>0,05) with decreasing of degranulated forms from 163,6 to 138,71 mm 2 (p>0,05) and significant increase of granulated forms from 47,41 to 91,51 mm 2 (p<0,05), resulting in a significant decrease in mast cells degranulation coefficient from 3,2±0,62/mm 2 to 1,24±0,26/mm 2 (p<0,0001). Thus, duodenal etiology of recurrent pancreatitis caused by exposure to food antigens or cross-allergic reactions can be diagnosed with an additional diagnostic criterion – the coefficient of mast cell degranulation, whose exponents greater than 1,5 indicate evidence of antigenic exposure to the mucosa of the duodenum and allergic inflammation.

Keywords:food allergy, cross-allergic reactions, recurrent pancreatitis, allergic reactions to drugs, gastrointestinal food allergy, mast cells, immunomorphology of duodenum

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CHIEF EDITOR
CHIEF EDITOR
Viktor A. Tutelyan
Full Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Scientific Director of the Federal Research Centre of Nutrition, Biotechnology and Food Safety (Moscow, Russia)

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