Prevalence of celiac disease in children under-18 years old with diabetes mellitus type I

Celiac disease is a chronic inflammation of small intestine which is caused by an increased permanent sensitivity to a protein named gluten. This protein is present in some cereals such as wheat, barley, and rye. The immunologic response to this protein can cause clinical symptoms in people with specific human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) (including HLADQ2 or HLADQ8). Most studies have reported an increased incidence of celiac disease in patients with diabetes mellitus type I. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of the celiac disease in patients with diabetes mellitus type I under the age of 18 years old.

This cross-sectional, analytic descriptive study was performed on forty children with diabetes mellitus type I in Sanandaj Diabetes Association (Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences), Iran, from September 2012 to September 2013. After obtaining consent from their parents, demographic data, including gender, age, family history of diabetes, duration of illness, symptoms of celiac disease, were recorded in the questionnaire. The measurement of the tissue transglutaminase (tTG) antibody and total immunoglobulin type A in the serum was necessary for the screening of celiac disease. Therefore in the laboratory, 5 ml of the venous blood sample was taken and then the serum levels of tTG antibody (from immunoglobulin type A) and total serum levels of this immunoglobulin were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Upper endoscopy with multiple biopsies from small intestine was performed in patients with positive serological screening. Finally, the disease was evaluated by histological finding.

Forty children with diabetes mellitus type I included 19 boys (47.5%) and 21 girls (52.5%) were enrolled in the study. The mean age of these patients was 10.53±4.05. The prevalence of celiac disease was 7.5% in these individuals. In the subjects, there was no significant relationship between gastrointestinal symptoms and celiac disease.

In the present study, the prevalence of the celiac disease in type 1 diabetic patients was 7.5% which is higher than the normal population.