[Screening of celiac disease in first-degree relatives].
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.
López-Hoyos
Marcos
M
Servicio de Inmunología. Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla. Servicio Cántabro de Salud. Santander. inmlhm@humv.es
Bartolomé-Pacheco
María José
MJ
Castro
Beatriz
B
Fernández
Fidel
F
de las Heras Castaño
Gonzalo
G
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*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D005903:Gliadin; D011503:Transglutaminases