Iron-deficiency anemia as a subclinical celiac disease presentation in an Argentinian population.

BACKGROUND There is a wide heterogeneity in the reports of celiac disease prevalence in iron-deficiency anemia patients. AIM To determine the prevalence of celiac disease in patients with iron-deficiency anemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS Adult patients with a diagnosis of iron-deficiency anemia were enrolled for upper endoscopy with duodenal biopsies. Healthy volunteers that underwent upper endoscopy were enrolled as controls. RESULTS A total of 135 patients with iron-deficiency anemia and 133 controls were enrolled. Celiac disease prevalence was higher in the iron-deficiency anemia group [11.11 vs. 1.51%, OR: 8.18 (1.83-36.55), P=.001). Of the celiac disease patients in the iron-deficiency anemia group, 73.3% had at least one endoscopic sign suggesting villous atrophy, whereas 100% of the celiac disease patients in the control group presented with at least one endoscopic sign. CONCLUSIONS Patients with iron-deficiency anemia have an increased risk for celiac disease. Up to 25% of these patients may not present any endoscopic sign suggesting villous atrophy.