Hyperprolactinemia in children with celiac disease

The serum prolactin level was determined serially in patients with coeliac disease during gluten uptake and on gluten free diet, and in one to 14 years old healthy children serving as controls. The prolactin levels in healthy controls and in coeliac patients on diet were within normal limits whereas in children with coeliac disease taking gluten in their meals significant hyperprolactinaema was found.     

Accuracy and cost-effectiveness of a new strategy to screen for celiac disease in children with Down syndrome

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the best approach to screen for celiac disease (CD) in patients with Down syndrome (DS). STUDY DESIGN: One hundred thirty-seven children with DS were followed up longitudinally. CD screening was offered in 1994, 1996, and 1999 by determination of serum immunoglobulin A-anti-endomysium antibodies (AEA). The HLA-DQA1*0501/DQB1*02 allelic combination known to be strongly positively associated with CD was typed. All IgA-AEA-positive children were given the opportunity to undergo a small bowel biopsy: if villous atrophy was found, the diagnosis of CD was established. RESULTS: CD was diagnosed in 11 (8%) children: 8 in 1994 and 3 in 1996. All of them carried the HLA-DQ alleles associated with CD. The presence of symptoms was not useful in discriminating which children could have CD. CONCLUSIONS: Screening once in a lifetime is not enough to detect CD in patients with DS. We propose a new, accurate, and cost-sparing 2-step strategy for screening, based on selection of the individuals with potential CD by HLA-DQ typing and on longitudinal serologic CD screening in this selected group.     

Joint involvement in children with celiac disease

Objective

To determine early joint involvement as detected by ultrasonography in children with newly diagnosed celiac disease, and in children with celiac disease on gluten-free diet for more than 6 months.

Methods

Cross-sectional comparative study evaluating joint abnormalities by ultrasonography.

Results

Ultrasonography showed abnormalities in 19 out of 60 (31.7%) children with newly diagnosed celiac disease as compared to 2 (3.3%) out of 60 in those on a gluten-free diet for more than 6 months.

Conclusion

Subclinical synovitis as detected by ultrasound is a frequent finding in newly diagnosed children with celiac disease.

     

Celiac disease in children with diarrhea is more frequent than previously suspected

BACKGROUND: Celiac disease (CD) may be missed or diagnosed late in children with chronic diarrhea. In this study the authors estimated the frequency of CD among pediatric patients with chronic diarrhea based on serologic and pathologic examinations. METHODS: During a 6-year period, all patients with chronic diarrhea of more than 6 weeks referred to the authors' department were included. For each patient, an asymptomatic control was enrolled from among the patients referred to our clinic for other reasons. Serologic tests for CD including immunoglobulin A endomysial antibody and immunoglobulin A antigliadin antibody were performed in all patients and controls. If positive, duodenal biopsy was performed to confirm the diagnosis. Patients subsequently diagnosed as CD were placed on a gluten-free diet and reevaluated after 6 months. RESULTS: 825 cases of diarrhea and 825 controls were enrolled. CD was diagnosed in 54 (6.5%) of the diarrhea patients and seven (0.8%) of the controls. After 6 months of gluten-free diet, 48 (88.8%) patients had significant improvement in symptoms and of these 41 (76.1%) were totally asymptomatic. Forty-two patients allowed repeat endoscopy after 6 months of gluten-free diet and 40 (95.2%) showed improvement in histologic findings. CONCLUSION: CD is common among patients labeled as chronic diarrhea. In this subgroup, gluten-free diet may lead to a significant improvement in symptoms. Routine testing for CD may be indicated in all patients being evaluated for chronic diarrhea.     

Screening for celiac disease in children with recurrent abdominal pain

BACKGROUND: The clinical presentation of celiac disease--a life-long gluten intolerance--may be characterized by chronic abdominal pain. The objective of this study was to determine if children with recurrent abdominal pain had a higher prevalence of antiendomysial antibodies (a serologic marker of celiac disease) compared with healthy children. METHODS: Children with recurrent abdominal pain and healthy control participants were recruited from the offices of community pediatricians. Serum samples were drawn and antiendomysial antibodies were measured in both groups. Demographic data included age, gender, height, and weight. RESULTS: A total of 200 children were recruited, of whom 173 (87%) had serum samples drawn. Of these, 92 were children with recurrent abdominal pain and 81 were control participants. Only 2 of the 173 samples (1.2%) were positive for antiendomysial antibody. The frequency of antiendomysial antibody positivity in children with recurrent abdominal pain was 1 in 92 (1%; 95% confidence interval, 0-6%) compared with 1 in 81 (1%; 95% confidence interval, 0-7%) in control participants. CONCLUSIONS: This community-based case-control study found no association between recurrent abdominal pain and the prevalence of antiendomysial antibody. Therefore, these data do not support screening for celiac disease in the child with classic recurrent abdominal pain in the primary care setting.     

Serum lipoprotein profile in children with celiac disease

Jejunal mucosa is responsible for the absorption of triglycerides and the production of lipoproteins [chylomicrons, very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL)] and apolipoproteins (B-48, A-I, A-II, A-IV, C-II). Mucosal damage is known to cause fat malabsorption and probably also affects the serum lipid profile. To determine lipoprotein production in states of enterocyte dysfunction, we compared the serum lipid profiles in a group of 12 children with untreated celiac disease (flat jejunal mucosa) with the profiles in a control group of 10 children suffering from other intestinal diseases. Statistically significant differences were found in the following parameters (celiac versus control): plasma levels of triglycerides (70 versus 119 mg/dl), cholesterol content in LDL (107 versus 67.7 mg/dl), protein content in VLDL (6 versus 10 mg/dl), and level of apoprotein A-I (112 versus 140 mg/dl). No significant differences were found between the two groups in the serum levels of total cholesterol, the cholesterol content in VLDL and HDL, the protein content in LDL and HDL, and the level of apoprotein B. Following institution of a gluten-free diet, the lipoprotein profile reverted to normal. These data suggest that the changes in the serum lipoprotein profile in celiac disease are secondary to alterations in enterocyte function and not only a reflection of fat malabsorption.     

Serum zinc levels in children with celiac disease

The gastrointestinal tract is an important organ in the maintenance of zinc homeostasis. We determined the serum zinc level in 140 samples from 78 children with coeliac disease in different phases. Abnormally low values were found only in children with acute coeliac disease (50% below 2 SD), but not in children receiving a gluten-free diet. We therefore suggest to measure the serum zinc concentration in children with coeliac disease and to add a zinc supplementation in patients with diminished zinc values during a period of 2-4 weeks, because zinc deficiency could inhibit the recovery of the intestinal mucosa.     

Transglutaminase antibodies in children with a genetic risk for celiac disease

OBJECTIVES: The transglutaminase (TG) antibody test is accurate in identifying celiac disease in symptomatic children. We sought to determine the positive predictive value of this test in asymptomatic children at genetic risk for celiac disease. STUDY DESIGN: Asymptomatic children with a genetic risk for celiac disease were studied to investigate the relationships between TG antibody titer, small bowel histology, growth, and clinical features. Small bowel biopsy histology was graded by using the system of Marsh. RESULTS: Of 30 children with a positive TG antibody test result, 21 (70%) had definite (Marsh score 2 or 3) and 4 (13%) had possible (Marsh score 1) biopsy evidence of celiac disease. TG antibody titer correlated with Marsh score (r = 0.569, P <.01). There was an inverse correlation between Marsh score and height z score (r = -0.361, P =. 05). CONCLUSIONS: In this group of asymptomatic children screened because of a genetic risk, TG antibodies have a positive predictive value of 70% to 83% for biopsy evidence of celiac disease and may identify children before clinical features of celiac disease develop.     

Factors affecting adherence to a gluten-free diet in children with celiac disease

BACKGROUND:

The treatment of celiac disease is a strict, life-long gluten-free (GF) diet. This diet is complex and can be challenging. Factors affecting adherence to the GF diet are important to identify for improving adherence.

OBJECTIVE:

To identify factors that inhibit or improve adherence to a GF diet in children with celiac disease.

METHODS:

Patients (<18 years of age) with biopsy-confirmed celiac disease followed by the gastroenterology service at a tertiary care paediatric institution were surveyed using a mailed questionnaire. Factors influencing adherence to a GF diet were scored from 1 to 10 based on how often they were problematic (1 = never, 10 = always). Parents of patients <13 years of age were instructed to complete the survey with their child. Adolescents ≥13 years of age were asked to complete the survey themselves.

RESULTS:

Of 253 subjects, 126 completed the survey; the median age was 12 years (range two to 18 years). Forty percent were adolescents. Overall, participants reported good adherence at home and school, but lower adherence at social events. Adolescents reported lower adherence compared with parents. Availability of GF foods and cost were the most significant barriers. Other factors identified to help with a GF diet included education for schools/restaurants and improved government support.

CONCLUSIONS:

Availability, cost and product labelling are major barriers to adherence to a GF diet. Better awareness, improved labelling and income support are needed to help patients.     

Coincidence of celiac disease with nongastrointestinal tumors in children

The association of celiac disease (CD) with cancers of gastrointestinal origin has been noted. However, coincidence of CD with nongastrointestinal neoplasms is an unusual event. Here we present five children with concurrent CD and nongastrointestinal neoplasms. All of the patients had positive serologic results for anti-tTG antibodies. Histological investigation of intestinal mucosa showed inflammation (Marsh score = 2) in all the patients. Two of these patients represented with germ cell malignancies. One patient had Wilms' tumor. To our knowledge, these are the first reports of coincidence of these two cancers with CD in children. From the remaining two patients, one was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and the other with astrocytoma. The diagnosis of malignancy preceded CD diagnosis in all the patients (mean ages of cancer and CD diagnosis of 1.8 and 5.4 years old, respectively). Whether malignancy can promote immune deregulation and predispose to CD is uncertain. On the other hand, undiagnosed celiac may be a risk factor for cancer. Our results suggest a potential association of CD with malignancy nature of CD, however, occurrence of CD may be influenced by various intrinsic and extrinsic factors. There are few reports noting CD as a paraneoplastic condition. Further investigations are necessitated to stablish such relationship.