title: Coeliac disease in chronic hepatitis C: a French multicentre prospective study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A prevalence of 1.2% of coeliac disease (CD) in patients with chronic hepatitis C was recently reported, suggesting a possible epidemiological link between these two diseases. However, other studies have not found this relationship.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To conduct a French multicentre prospective study to assess the prevalence of CD in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between June 2003 and November 2005, 624 consecutive HCV-positive out-patients were tested for antiendomysial IgA antibodies (AEA), antigliadin IgA and IgG antibodies (AGA). Patients with positive AEA or IgA AGA and positive IgG AGA in a context of a high suspicion of CD were asked to undergo gastroscopy with duodenal biopsies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Isolated IgA AEA, IgA AGA and IgG AGA were 0.16%, 5.7% and 4.4%, respectively. Gastroscopy was required for 39 patients, 31 were performed (eight refusals), but only 25 duodenal biopsies were performed as six patients had cirrhosis. CD was never detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of CD in HCV-positive patients was 0% (95% confidence interval: 0-0.59%), but there is a low prevalence of CD in the whole French population.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Hépatologie et de Soins Intensifs Digestifs, Hôpital Universitaire Jean Minjoz, Besançon, France. tthevenot@chu-besancon.fr
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thevenot
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Denis
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jouannaud
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Monnet
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Renou
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Labadie
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abdelli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nguyen-Khac
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dumouchel
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bresson-Hadni
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chousterman
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: DI Martino
authors.forename: J-F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Cadranel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D005903:Gliadin / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D005903:Gliadin