title: [Celiac disease: descriptive study at the Anglo American clinic].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Celiac disease (CD) is a condition in which gluten intake develops an autoimmune response generating intestinal villous atrophy, causing malabsorption. Prevalence worldwide is approximately 1%, in our country it is not known.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective, descriptive, observational study in Anglo American Clinic between September 2004 and February 2012. We reviewed the medical charts, upper GI endoscopy reports and duodenal biopsy reports of all patients with positive anti TTG results, who were older than 18 years of age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We studied 39 cases, 26 (66.7%) women and 13 (33.3%) men. Mean age was 61.25 years. The symptoms were chronic diarrhea in 32 (82.1%), abdominal pain in 22 (56.4%), abdominal distention in 14 (35.9%), and others in lower frequency. Eight (20.5%) patients had anemia. Just 5 (12.8%) had upper endoscopy findings consistent with CD, and Marsh classification was: 0: 5 (12.7%), I: 1 (2.6%), II: 0 (0%), IIII A: 20 (51.3%), III B: 12 (30.8%) y III C: 1 (2.6%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CD should be considered as a differential diagnosis of patients with non-specific long-term gastrointestinal symptoms, extraintestinal symptoms should also be taken into account. Diagnosis should be made with anti TTG as the initial test and posteriorly with a duodenal biopsy for staging.
authors.affiliation: Médico Asistente del Servicio de Medicina Interna de la Clínica Anglo Americana. racsollanos@hotmail.com
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Llanos
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matzumura
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tagle
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huerta-Mercado
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cedrón
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Scavino
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Luna
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies