EOSINOPHILIC PROCTITIS WITH GIANT-CELLS - A MANIFESTATION OF COWS MILK PROTEIN INTOLERANCE

Two infants, subsequently shown to have cow’s milk protein intolerance, presented with rectal bleeding in the first week of life. Rectal biopsies showed eosinophilic infiltration of the mucosa with several multinucleated giant cells. IgG, IgM, and IgA containing plasma cells were present but IgE could not be detected in rectal biopsies. While cow’s milk protein intolerance is a well-recognized cause of proctocolitis in infancy, eosinophilic granulomatous-like lesions with giant cells may be a prominent feature and do not exclude the diagnosis. © 1990 Raven Press, Ltd., New York.