Severe Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Cow Milk Hypersensitivity in Infants and Children: Disease Association and Evaluation of a New Challenge Procedure

BACKGROUND: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and cow milk hypersensitivity are frequent disorders of infancy. A possible causative association between these two entities has been suggested. OBJECTIVE: The primary aim was to elucidate whether a causative relationship between the two entities could be established in a population of infants and children. A secondary aim was to evaluate whether cow milk challenge during esophageal pH monitoring is useful as an objective method to identify this subgroup of patients. METHODS: Upper endoscopy followed by a 48-hour esophageal pH monitoring with cow's milk elimination diet at day 1 and challenge at day 2. Cow milk hypersensitivity was later verified by elimination diet and a second open (in patients < 3 years of age) or double-blind placebo-controlled (in patients > or = 3 years of age) challenge. Skin prick test, specific serum immunoglobulin E and skin patch test were used as supplementary procedures. Follow-up endoscopy and pH monitoring were performed after 3 months of treatment (omeprazole versus elimination diet dependent on evidence of food hypersensitivity). RESULTS: Eighteen of 42 investigated patients had severe GERD, defined as endoscopic esophagitis and/or a reflux index > 10%. Among these patients, a group of 10 patients with GERD and cow milk hypersensitivity was identified. This group had a significantly higher reflux index compared with children with primary GERD. No significant increase was noted in reflux index during simultaneous pH monitoring and milk challenge. CONCLUSIONS: An association between GERD and cow milk hypersensitivity was observed in both infants and children with severe GERD. Simultaneous cow milk challenge and pH monitoring had limited value as a method to identify this subgroup.