Celiac disease in children with short stature.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of celiac disease in children with short stature.


METHODS
In all children with short stature (height more than 2 SD below the mean for age and sex) and normal physical examination, attending Motahary pediatric clinic in Shiraz, Iran, from 2003 till 2005, work-ups were made to find a cause for their short stature and of course their serum was assayed for IgG anti-tissue transglutaminase (TTG) antibody by ELISA test, as a marker for CD.


RESULTS
There were 26 girls and 46 boys with mean age of 9.8 years. Routine work-up showed microcytic hypochromic anemia in four children (5.6%) and giardiasis in five (6.9%). GH stimulation test revealed GH deficiency in five children (6.9%). Elevated IgG anti-TTG antibody level was detected in two children (2.8%). Duodenal biopsies of these children were in favor of celiac disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Although, the prevalence of CD in this study was not significantly different (P value = 0.14) from the prevalence rate in healthy blood donors in Iran, the findings emphasize the fact that CD must be considered in a child with short stature, especially if the height is more than 3 SD below the mean for sex and age, even in the absence of gastrointestinal symptoms. In conclusion, the measurement of anti-TTG antibody should be included in the diagnostic evaluation of children with short stature.
Dehghani
Seyed Mohsen
SM
Department of Pediatrics and Gestroentero-hepatology Research Centre, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. dehghanism@sums.ac.ir
Asadi-Pooya
Ali Akbar
AA
D000293:Adolescent; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D001827:Body Height; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004386:Duodenum / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000276:immunology
D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011503:Transglutaminases