[Increased serum levels of soluble IL-2 receptor in food intolerance: possible mechanism of delayed immunity in milk intolerance].

The levels of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) were measured in 35 serum samples from children with food intolerance; 19 had an IgE-mediated sensitization and were considered as atopic patients, skin tests and RAST were negative in the remaining 16 children and they were diagnosed as having cow milk intolerance (CMI) Forty-three coeliac patients were included as a positive control group and 18 normal children as the negative control group. The atopic group showed normal values of sIL-2R (1,183 +/- 468 u/ml); however, it was increased in children with CMI (1,453 +/- 469 u/ml, p < 0.05). The sIL-2R mean value was highest in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms (1,458 +/- 461 u/ml, p: 0.03) and the presence of atopic dermatitis was not relevant. The sIL-2R was also elevated in 8 children with igE-mediated sensitization against cow's milk (1,477 +/- 328 u/ml, p < 0.05). These results suggest that a delayed cellular mechanism occurred in CMI, similar to that present in coeliac disease, although it was less severe. In addition, there is an overlap of humoral and cellular immunological mechanisms in the IgE-mediated sensitization to cow's milk, but we did not find this coincidence in the allergy to remaining foods. From a pathogenic point of view, to separate CMI from IgE-mediated allergies to milk does not seem to be sufficiently justified at the present time. It is possible that the atopy against cow milk proteins in children has a different immunological mechanism than the atopy to other foods, which would explain its better prognosis.