title: Lack of association between seroconversion and catch-up growth in children with celiac disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the association between seroconversion and catch-up growth during the first year of a gluten-free diet (GFD) program in children with celiac disease (CD).
  
  
  METHODS
  All prepubertal and biopsy-proven children diagnosed with CD between January 1999 and August 2009 were included in a retrospective study (n=55). Growth parameters and celiac antibodies were documented before and after 6 (period 1) and 12 months (period 2) of GFD, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean height velocity-standard deviation score (SDS) was significantly higher in period 1 compared with that in period 2 (2.90 +/- 3.20 vs. 0.20 +/- 2.08, p<0.001) irrespective of the serology status, with marginal difference in mean weight-SDS gain (p=0.074). Mean levels of height velocity-SDS and the weight-SDS gain were similar in the seropositive and seronegative groups in both periods of the study. Mean height-SDS and weight-SDS levels after 6 months were higher than those in baseline levels, both in seropositive (-0.47 +/- 0.91 vs. -0.82 +/- 0.82, p<0.001 and -0.59 +/- 1.17 vs. -1.11 +/- 1.33, p<0.001, respectively) and seronegative patients (-1.02 +/- 1.14 vs. -1.50 +/- 1.12, p<0.001 and -1.19 +/- 1.27 vs. -1.45 +/- 1.40, p=0.048, respectively). These growth parameters were higher at the end compared with the beginning of period 2, but only in seropositive patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The most remarkable catch-up growth in children with CD can be expected during the first 6 months of GFD, irrespective of the serology status.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Kaplan Medical Center, affiliated with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel. amzung2@bezeqint.net
authors.forename: Amnon
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zung
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kori
mesh_terms: D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D055050:Diet, Gluten-Free; D005260:Female; D005903:Gliadin / Q000276:immunology; D005983:Glutens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D005983:Glutens; D005903:Gliadin