Prevalence of celiac disease among type 1 diabetic Egyptian patients and the association with autoimmune thyroid disease.

BACKGROUND Celiac disease (CD) is a common genetically transmitted immune mediated disease. METHOD Seventy three type 1 DM patients attending the Diabetes, Metabolic and Endocrinology outpatient clinic were recruited in the study. Thorough history taking and medical examination were done. They were screened for the prevalence of celiac disease by ELISA for coeliac disease antibodies against tTG. Anti-thyroglobulin antibodies, antithyroidperoxidase antibodies were analysed to estimate the prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disease. RESULTS Four out of seventy three (5.48%) type 1 diabetic children were seropositive for anti-tTG antibodies. They had symptoms of celiac disease such as chronic diarrhea (5.48%), recurrent abdominal pain (2.7%) and short stature (5.48%). Six patients were diagnosed with autoimmune thyroid diseases as they were seropositive for antithyroglobulin antibodies and/or antithyroidperoxidase antibodies. None of them proved to be positive for anti-tTG antibodies. CONCLUSION The prevalence of CD among Type 1 DM patients by using tissue transglutaminase antibodies ELISA was (5.48%) which supports the current practice of screening for celiac disease. Patients with autoimmune thyroid disease were negative for anti-tTG antibodies. HbA1c levels were adversely affected by malabsorption related to celiac disease in seropositive patients (Tab. 5, Ref. 27). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.