1. Relationship between the diagnosis of food protein–induced enterocolitis syndrome and postemetic procalcitonin levels
- Author
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Chihiro Kunigami, MD, Takanori Imai, MD, PhD, Kosei Yamashita, MD, Toshiyuki Takagi, MD, Megumi Okawa, MD, Aiko Honda, MD, Yuki Okada, MD, PhD, Mayu Maeda, MD, PhD, and Taro Kamiya, MD, PhD
- Subjects
Food allergy ,food protein–induced enterocolitis syndrome ,procalcitonin ,oral food challenge ,pediatrics ,Immunologic diseases. Allergy ,RC581-607 - Abstract
Background: There are no reports on the relationship between food protein–induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) diagnosis and procalcitonin levels. Objective: Our study sought to demonstrate a correlation between the presence or absence and severity of FPIES symptoms and postemetic procalcitonin levels. Methods: The subjects were 53 patients with FPIES (44 with hen’s egg allergy, 4 with milk allergy, 4 with wheat allergy, and 3 with soy allergy), who collectively underwent a total of 75 oral food challenges (OFCs). Procalcitonin levels at 5 hours after antigen ingestion were compared between patients with a positive OFC result and those with a negative OFC result and between patients who experienced mild or moderate events and those who experienced severe events. Results: At 5 hours after ingestion of the causative food, the median procalcitonin levels in patients with a negative OFC result, patients who experienced a mild or moderate event, and patients who experienced a severe event were 0.02, 0.03, and 0.16 ng/mL, respectively. The procalcitonin level was significantly higher in the groups with a positive OFC result than in the groups with a negative OFC result (P < .001), and it was significantly higher in those who experienced severe events than in those who experienced mild or moderate events (P = .012). Conclusion: Measurement of procalcitonin levels has the potential to provide a quantitative and objective assessment of FPIES diagnosis and severity.
- Published
- 2023
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