Celiac disease screening among healthy blood donors in Hungary.
BACKGROUND
Celiac disease (CD) is a common chronic systemic autoimmune disease in Europe. The prevalence of CD in Hungarian children is estimated at 1.2 - 1.4 %. To date, however, no data on adult CD prevalence has been published.


OBJECTIVE
Analysis of the serological evidence for CD among Hungarian adults in order to estimate its prevalence.


METHODS
Plasma samples from 4155 healthy blood donors were anonymously screened for circulating IgA autoantibodies by a highly sensitive tissue transglutaminase ELISA. Positive results were subsequently confirmed by endomysial antibody test.


RESULTS
Endomysial antibody test confirmed positivity in 25 samples suggesting a prevalence of CD of at least 0.6 % (1:166). Since no identification on the samples was provided, no further examinations could be done on endomysial antibody positive individuals.


CONCLUSIONS
The first serological screening study among healthy Hungarian adult blood donors showed a prevalence of CD similar to other central European countries and lower than that in Hungarian children. Among countries worldwide, the Hungarian prevalence of CD appears to be in the mid-range, although pediatric data suggest a higher prevalence.
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Dermatooncology, Semmelweis University, Budapest.
M
M
Sárdy
Z
Z
Kornseé
D
D
Kelemen
S
S
Papp
M
M
Medvecz
S
S
Kárpáti
D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D011503:Transglutaminases