Evaluation of lymphocyte proliferative responses to casein hydrolysate formula in cow's milk-sensitive children: response of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to hydrolysate formula.

The proliferative responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to cow's milk proteins and a casein hydrolysate formula were investigated in 10 cow's milk-sensitive patients. The casein hydrolysate formula reduced the symptoms in seven children but not in three. The proliferative responses of PBMCs to cow's milk proteins and the formula were higher in the three patients whose symptoms were not reduced by casein hydrolysate formula. However, the proliferative responses of PBMCs to hydrolysate formula were lower than those to cow's milk proteins in patients whose symptoms were reduced by casein hydrolysate formula. These results suggest that an elimination diet with casein hydrolysate formula may not be as effective in some patients with cow's milk allergy whose PBMCs proliferate to casein hydrolysate formula.