title: [Screening of celiac disease in first-degree relatives].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to analyze the prevalence of celiac disease (CD) in first-degree relatives of patients diagnosed with this disorder in Cantabria (Northern Spain).
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was administered and a complete biologic study was performed in 184 relatives. When serum CD-related antibodies were detected, relatives were asked to undergo a jejunal biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen relatives had autoantibodies yet only 4 were diagnosed with CD. The biopsy was suggestive of CD in 3 relatives who underwent it. A further relative was diagnosed with CD by the clinical and serological response to a gluten-free diet.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence found in our study is high enough so that we recommend the screening of autoantibodies, especially anti-gliadin and anti-transglutaminase antibodies, in this risk-population of celiac disease.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Inmunología. Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla. Servicio Cántabro de Salud. Santander. inmlhm@humv.es
authors.forename: Marcos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: López-Hoyos
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bartolomé-Pacheco
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Fidel
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: de las Heras Castaño
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005903:Gliadin / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D005903:Gliadin; D011503:Transglutaminases