Prevalence of celiac disease in Brazilian children of short stature

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of celiac disease in children of short stature and to assess whether some of the routine laboratory examinations performed to determine the cause of short stature could suggest the presence of celiac disease. A total of 106 children of short stature and no gastrointestinal symptoms were studied. An extensive endocrine work-up had been negative for all of them and an additional investigation was performed by measuring the concentration of antiendomysial antibody. Patients who were positive for antiendomysial antibody (≥1:10) or who exhibited IgA deficiency (less than 5 mg/dl) were referred for an endoscopic intestinal biopsy.

Screening children with severe short stature for celiac disease using tissue transglutaminase

“…The prevalence of CD was higher (35-59%) in the studies 11,[14][15][16][17][18] where either the endocrinal workup had been done and/or the sample was very small. In rest of the studies 10,13,[19][20][21][22][23][24] where the endocrinal causes had not been ruled out in the selected children and/or the sample size was relatively larger, the prevalence reported was lower (1.7-8.3%).…”

What Do Brazilian Pediatricians Know About Celiac Disease?

“…The idea of a ''celiac iceberg'' has been widely debated in the medical literature [1][2][3]8] and individuals with pathologies such as type 1 diabetes mellitus [12], autoimmune thyroiditis [10], low stature [11], ataxia, peripheral neuropathy and epilepsy [13], and individuals with first-degree relatives affected by celiac disease [7], among others, are considered to represent risk groups for this disease. Of the pediatricians interviewed, fewer than 50% were able to name an associated pathology or condition.…”

“…Some studies have shown these conditions to be 3-10 times more common in patients with celiac disease [1,[10][11][12]. Celiac disease remains shrouded in numerous myths resulting from the limited information that was available on the disease in the past, despite the fact that it is now well documented in current medical literature.…”

Mejorar el manejo de la enfermedad celíaca: Un desafío urgente

“…En Latinoamérica, hay estudios poblacionales en Argentina y Brasil, donde se estiman prevalencias de 1:167 y 1:360 individuos, respectivamente [12][13][14] . En Chile no existen estudios poblacionales de prevalencia que utilicen marcadores serológicos.…”