title: Epidemiologic and demographic survey of celiac disease in khuzestan province.
abstract: BACKGROUND Celiac disease presents with a wide spectrum of symptoms. This study clarifies different aspects of celiac disease along with the most common patterns of celiac presentation in Khuzestan Province, Iran. METHODS Patients' information was obtained by evaluation of their files from the archives of the Khuzestan Celiac Society and records at gastroenterologists' offices in this province. RESULTS Overall, there were 103 (40 males, 63 females) patients included in this study. Patients' mean ages were 33 ± 11 years (males) and 31.6 ± 11.7 years (females). In terms of geographic distribution, 54.1% resided in the center of the province followed by 26.5% who were residents of the northern area. The rate of employment among men was 70.6% whereas it was 8.3% for women. In terms of education, 21.9% of men and 33.3% of women had academic educations. The rate of matrimony was 80.6% (n=29) for men, 65.4% (n=38) for women and 3.4% (n=2) who were divorced. Mean height was 164 ± 14 cm in men and 157.5 ± 10 cm in women. Mean BMI at the time of presentation was 22.7 in men and 22.6 in women. The most common gastrointestinal (GI) complaints in male patients were diarrhea (35%), reflux (20%), bloating (17.5%), abdominal pain (15%), vomiting (15%) and constipation (7.5%). Female patients experienced diarrhea (49.2%), abdominal pain (31.7%), bloating (31.7%), vomiting (19%), constipation(9.5%) and reflux (7.9%). The most common concomitant non-GI disorders among male patients were anemia (17.1%), thyroid disease (14.3%), and weight loss (14.3%); women experienced anemia (33.9%), thyroid disease (12.5%), and weight loss (7.1%). Approximately half of the patients exhibited symptoms for more than five years prior to diagnosis and 90% were diagnosed by gastroenterologists. Of these, 43% had normal endoscopy results. The most common serologic markers were anti-TTG (69.9%), anti-EMA (27.7%). CONCLUSION Physicians, prior to attributing patients' symptoms to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), should be aware that patients who present with long-term nonspecific symptoms might possibly have celiac disease. During endoscopy, the threshold for obtaining biopsies should be low.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Infectious Diseases of Digestive System, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran ; Assistant Professor, Gastroenterology Department, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Pezhman
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alavinejad
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Infectious Diseases of Digestive System, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran ; Associate Professor, Gastroenterology Department, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Eskandar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hajiani
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Infectious Diseases of Digestive System, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran ; Associate Professor, Gastroenterology Department, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Rahim
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Masjedizadeh
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Infectious Diseases of Digestive System, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran ; Associate Professor, Gastroenterology Department, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Jalal
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hashemi
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Infectious Diseases of Digestive System, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faramarzi
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Infectious Diseases of Digestive System, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran ; Assistant Professor, Gastroenterology Department, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Vahid
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sebghatollahi
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Infectious Diseases of Digestive System, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran ; Assistant Professor, Gastroenterology Department, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Ali Akbar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Shayesteh
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Infectious Diseases of Digestive System, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran ; Assistant Professor, Gastroenterology Department, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kadkhodae
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Infectious Diseases of Digestive System, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran ; Assistant Professor, Gastroenterology Department, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Farzad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jasemi Zergani
authors.affiliation: Head Nurse of Gastrointestinal Ward, Imam Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Shahnaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asghari
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Infectious Diseases of Digestive System, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Farnaz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Farsi
keywords: Anemia; Celiac disease; Diarrhea; Endoscopy; Iran; Khuzestan