title: [Histological features of celiac disease in south Tunisia: a study of 114 pediatric cases].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report the histological features of celiac disease in a paediatric population originating from south Tunisia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of a series of duodenal biopsies from 114 children with celiac disease diagnosed over a period of 6 years (from January 1999 to December 2004). The diagnosis was confirmed by histological results, serological studies and clinical response to gluten free diet.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average age of patients was of 6.2 years (range 6 months-15 years). Sex ratio was 0.71. Symptoms were dominated by chronic diarrhea (48%), weight loss (50%) and anemia (20.1%). Histological findings showed an intraepithelial lymphocytosis (Marsh type 1) in 12.2% of cases, type 2 was present in 1.7% of cases and type 3 (villous atrophy) in 86% of cases. A treatment with a gluten-free diet was indicated for all patients, only the cases who haven't presented a clinical amelioration (11 cases) have beneficed a control biopsie; a villous atrophy was persistent in 80% of this patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Histological features in duodenal biopsies for the diagnosis and the follow-up of patients with coeliac disease. This allows an appropriate treatment and prevents further complications.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'anatomie et de cytologie pathologiques, CHU Habib Bourguiba, Sfax, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Rim
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kallel
authors.forename: Saloua
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krichen-Makni
authors.forename: Sameh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ellouze
authors.forename: Chiraz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Châari
authors.forename: Slim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Charfi
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sellami
authors.forename: Mohamed-Nabil
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Tahri
authors.forename: Mongia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hachicha
authors.forename: Tahya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sellami-Boudawara
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001706:Biopsy; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004386:Duodenum / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014416:Tunisia