The prevalence of coeliac disease as detected by screening in children with iron deficiency anaemia.
OBJECTIVE
Iron deficiency anaemia is a frequent finding seen in coeliac disease, which can be diagnosed alone or with other findings. In this study, our aim was to determine the prevalence of coeliac disease in children with iron deficiency anaemia without significant gastrointestinal symptoms.


METHODS
There were 135 children with iron deficiency anaemia in the patient group (group 1), and 223 healthy children without iron deficiency anaemia in the control group (group 2) in this study. Antiendomysial antibody (EMA) IgA test was given to both groups. Antiendomysial antibody-positive patients underwent small intestine biopsy.


RESULTS
The mean age was 7.2+/-4.6 (2-16) y in the patient group (group 1) and 8.2+/-3.8 (2-16) y in the control group (group 2), and no significant difference between the two groups was detected. In terms of gender, there was a significant difference between groups 1 and 2 (M/F: 74/61 and 98/125, respectively) ( p<0.05). EMA was positive in six cases in group 1 (4.4%), and villous atrophy and/or inflammation in the lamina propria with increased intraepithelial lymphocytes was seen on small intestine biopsy in these patients. In the control group, EMA was negative in all children. In detailed histories of patients with coeliac disease diagnosis, recurrent iron deficiency anaemia/pica was found in four patients (66.7%) and occasionally foul-smelling or watery stool attacks were seen in four patients (66.7%). Three of these six patients (50%) had short stature.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of coeliac disease was high in patients with iron deficiency anaemia; therefore, gastrointestinal findings should be further examined for coeliac disease, and the possibility of coeliac disease should be investigated in patients with recurrent iron deficiency anaemia and short stature.
Kalayci
Ayhan Gazi
AG
Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey. ayhangk@omu.edu.tr
Kanber
Yilmaz
Y
Birinci
Asuman
A
Yildiz
Levent
L
Albayrak
Davut
D
D000293:Adolescent; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000150:complications*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male
D001323:Autoantibodies; D007070:Immunoglobulin A