Prevalence and Clinical Features of Celiac Disease in Healthy School-Aged Children

WOS: 000454932700025PubMed ID: 30311156Background/AimsThe aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of celiac disease (CD) in healthy school-aged children in the northern region of Cyprus and to investigate the existence of potential markers that may accompany CD. This is the first study to measure the prevalence of CD in the northern region of Cyprus.MethodsThis study included 3792 school-aged children who were between the ages of 6 and 10years between January 2015 and October 2016. CD was screened using total serum IgA, IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase (tTG), and IgA antiendomysial (EMA) antibodies. Subjects with selective IgA deficiency were further tested for IgG-tTG. Small intestinal biopsies were performed on all subjects with tTG antibody positivity. Risk factors and symptoms related to CD were evaluated using questionnaires in both the CD and control groups.ResultsOf the 3792 subjects, 39 were antibody positive (IgA-tTG was positive only in 14 subjects, IgA-tTG plus IgA-EMA in 21 subjects, and IgG-tTG in 4 subjects). IgA deficiency was detected in 11 subjects (0.29%). IgG-tTG was positive in 4 subjects with IgA deficiency (36.3%). Intestinal biopsies were performed on 28 of the 39 seropositive subjects. The biopsy findings of 15 children were consistent with CD (IgA-tTG positive in 3, IgA-tTG and IgA-EMA positive in 10, and IgG-tTG positive in 2). Thus, biopsies confirmed CD in 1:256 children (0.39%).ConclusionsOur study, which is the first study of school-aged children from the northern region of Cyprus, revealed that CD is a prevalent disease in this region.Turkish Pediatric Association; Cyprus Turkish Pediatric AssociationThis study was conducted under the leadership and with financial support of the Turkish Pediatric Association. We thank the Cyprus Turkish Pediatric Association, and Turkish Pediatric Association for all their support. We also thank Figen Ince, Hasret Ayyildiz Civan, Mine Ozdil Cirkinoglu, Bircan Kavaz, Hulya Madi, Sevgi Oksuz, Nazife Oner, Kamuran Aribuka, Saziye Guclu, Remzi Gardiyanoglu, Nurcin Incirli, Ayten Beyar, Rasit Kayra, Halil Hizal, Hasan Garabli, Cemal Mert, Senel Dalinc, Nesibe Kocaman, Aysen Yucel Varol, Cengiz Elyeli, Havva Duran, Pembe Akgol, Emine Ertekin, Senay Kosar, Ragbet Tosun, Osman Kilinc, Saniye Yildirim, Arife Tek, Sengul Ucak, Nevin Cinar, Esma Karaca, Emine Zurnali, Ayse Curuk, Hatice Turan, Mahmude Erdevir, Havva Ucar, Suna Sagir, Cemile Sener, and Selcuk Cagsin for both blood sampling in the schools and informing parents of the study group