Potential celiac disease in type 1 diabetes: A multicenter study

• Published in: Diabetes research and clinical practice Vol. 92; no. 1; pp. 53 - 56
• Main Authors: Franzese, Adriana, Iafusco, Dario, Spadaro, Raffaella, Cavaliere, Olmina, Prisco, Francesco, Auricchio, Renata, Troncone, Riccardo, Valerio, Giuliana
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.04.2011
• Subjects: Adolescent; Autoimmune disorders; Celiac disease; Celiac Disease - epidemiology; Celiac Disease - etiology; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - complications; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - epidemiology; Diet, Gluten-Free; Endocrinology & Metabolism; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Potential celiac disease; Type 1 diabetes; Celiac disease; Potential celiac disease; Autoimmune disorders; Type 1 diabetes
• ISSN: 0168-8227; 1872-8227
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2010.12.028

Abstract Aims To describe the prevalence of potential celiac disease (pot-CD) in young patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and characterize their clinical features. Methods This cross-sectional multicenter study involved 8717 T1DM patients from 31 Italian centers. Information was collected on the total number of T1DM patients, CD patients and pot-CD patients. The following data were collected on pot-CD patients: gender, age at T1DM diagnosis, age at the first CD serological positivity, presence of CD-related symptoms, presence of other autoimmune disorders and treatment with gluten free diet (GFD). One thousand-three-hundred-sixty-one patients who were positive for CD serology were the control group. Results CD serological positivity was found in 7.2% T1DM patients. Prevalence of pot-CD was 12.2% ( n = 77) among CD positive patients: symptoms were present in 12/77; a third autoimmune disorder was found in 15 patients. Prevalence of pot-CD in the control population was 8.4% ( n = 114; p = 0.005). No difference was found with regard to clinical features. Only few symptomatic patients were on GFD both in T1DM and control patients. Conclusions A higher prevalence of pot-CD was found in T1DM patients, that may be ascribed to the routine screening, although the influence of genetic factors cannot be excluded.