title: Prevalence and causes of abnormal liver function in patients with coeliac disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Coeliac disease patients frequently display mild elevation of liver enzymes and this abnormality usually normalizes after gluten-free diet. To investigate the cause and prevalence of altered liver function tests in coeliac patients, basally and after 1 year of gluten-free diet.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 245 untreated CD patients (196 women and 49 men, age range 15-80 years) were retrospectively analysed and the liver function tests before and after diet, as well as associated liver pathologies, were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 43/245 (17.5%) patients had elevated values of one or both aminotransferases; the elevation was mild (<5 times the upper reference limit) in 41 (95%) and marked (>10 times the upper reference limit) in the remaining 2 (5%) patients. After 1 year of gluten-free diet, aminotransferase levels normalized in all but four patients with HCV infection or primary biliary cirrhosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In coeliac patients, hypertransaminaseaemia at diagnosis and the lack of normalization of liver enzymes after 12 months of diet suggest coexisting liver disease. In such instance, further evaluation is recommended to exclude the liver disease. Early recognition and treatment of coeliac disease in patients affected by liver disease are important to improve the liver function and prevent complications.
authors.affiliation: Medical Department, Desio Hospital, Monza and Brianza, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Casella
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Antonelli
authors.forename: Camillo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Bella
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Villanacci
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fanini
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Baldini
authors.forename: Gabrio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bassotti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000178:diet therapy*; D055050:Diet, Gluten-Free / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000201:enzymology / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Aminotransferases; celiac disease; liver enzymes; liver function