Cow's milk intolerance and abdominal surgery: a puzzling connection.

We describe 9 infants (ranging from 1 to 6 1/2 months) in whom a surgical pathology (gastro-esophageal reflux and/or pyloric stenosis) was associated with cow's milk intolerance (CMI). In all cases vomiting and/or failure to thrive did not disappear after surgery. The patients recovered only after dietary manipulation by cow's milk protein free diet. In 5 out of 9 cases, multiple food intolerances were present (soy and/or casein hydrolysates). In all cases the diagnosis of CMI was confirmed by challenge test. The connections between CMI and abdominal surgery in infancy are discussed.