Evaluation of Our Food Protein Induced Proctocolitis Cases: A Single Center Experience

Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine clinical characteristics, laboratory findings and course in infants diagnosed with allergic proctocolitis. Materials and methods: Thirty-four patients diagnosed with food protein-induced proctocolitis in our clinic between 2013 and 2016 were evaluated retrospectively. Files were reviewed in terms of symptoms, clinical features, laboratory findings and responses to treatment. Results and discussion: Sixteen (47%) patients were female. Mean age was 3.3 ± 2.3 months (1-10 months). Eleven (32.3%) cases presented with pronounced rectal bleeding and 23 (67.6%) with bloody spots or streaks in stool. In terms of nutrition, 76.4% of babies were receiving breast milk alone, and the remainder received breast milk with supplementary formula. Mean peripheral eosinophil rate was 8.6 ± 6.3%. Response was achieved solely by removal of milk and dairy products from the mother’s diet in 25 (73.5%) cases, while multiple allergen food (eggs, nuts, fish etc.) elimination was applied to mothers in 8 (23.5%) and breast milk was discontinued for 3 months in one case. Symptoms resolved in a mean 6.4 ± 5.9 days (1-25) following of elimination diet. Conclusion: Our study shows that allergic proctocolitis in infancy frequently appears in exclusively breastfed babies, that the condition has a benign course and that cow’s milk protein plays an important role in the etiopathogenesis.