The prevalence of celiac disease in patients fulfilling Rome III criteria for irritable bowel syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Celiac disease shares several symptoms which constitute some of the ROME criteria used for the diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and as such many patients with underlying Celiac disease may be mistakenly diagnosed as having IBS. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of Celiac disease in patients with IBS fulfilling ROME III criteria.


METHODS
Patients who fulfilled ROME III criteria for irritable bowel syndrome were screened for Celiac disease using the Biocard(TM) Celiac Disease Stick test, and patients who tested positive had their serum samples analyzed for antigliadin IgA and IgG, and anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA antibodies. Patients with detectable antibody levels underwent endoscopic duodenal biopsy to confirm a diagnosis of Celiac disease.


RESULTS
Two of 100 patients who were diagnosed as having irritable bowel syndrome as per the Roma III criteria were found to have elevated levels of serum antigliadin IgA and IgG, and anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA antibodies, with histological evidence of Celiac disease on examination of duodenal biopsy. Both patients were started on a gluten-free diet, showing significant improvement in their symptoms on follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Celiac disease is a common finding among patients labeled as IBS. Celiac disease must be considered in differential diagnosis of IBS especially in the therapy refractory group.
Korkut
Esin
E
Department of Gastroenterology, Ankara University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey.
Bektas
Mehmet
M
Oztas
Erkin
E
Kurt
Mevlut
M
Cetinkaya
Hulya
H
Ozden
Ali
A
D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D003248:Constipation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D055050:Diet, Gluten-Free; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic