A study was conducted to apply sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT; an efficient desensitization method) in patients with persistent IgE-mediated cow's milk allergy (CMA) [France]. Eight children (>6 years) with IgE-mediated CMA were recruited and underwent 2 milk challenges (before and after SLIT), to determine the eliciting dose (ED). During the first challenge, the mean ED was 39 ml (range, 4-106 ml). In 6 patients, this ED was reached following subjective symptoms elicited by lower milk doses and disappearing spontaneously. One patients withdrew from the SLIT protocol after months. Among the remaining 7 patients, 6 completed the protocol, with a poor compliance in one, none experiencing any side-effects. During the second challenge, the mean ED increased (range, 44->200 ml; P<0.01). Three patients did not react with 200 ml of cow's milk and normalized their diet. One patient presented with abdominal pain following ingestion of 150 ml of milk and parent denied continuing the challenge; cow's milk was progressively reintroduced at home until a normal diet was possible 3 months later. The ED increased in the other 2 patients who completed the SLIT protocol.