[Histological features of celiac disease in south Tunisia: a study of 114 pediatric cases].
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.
Kallel
Rim
R
Laboratoire d'anatomie et de cytologie pathologiques, CHU Habib Bourguiba, Sfax, Tunisie.
Krichen-Makni
Saloua
S
Ellouze
Sameh
S
Châari
Chiraz
C
Charfi
Slim
S
Sellami
Ahmed
A
Tahri
Mohamed-Nabil
MN
Hachicha
Mongia
M
Sellami-Boudawara
Tahya
T
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