title: Association between Celiac Disease and Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection.
abstract: Celiac disease affects the proximal small intestine and is caused by a local immune response to dietary gluten. Celiac disease usually presents with chronic diarrhea; however, presentations with elevated hepatic transaminase levels in blood or with iron-deficiency anemia have been described. Celiac disease has been reported to be associated with autoimmune liver diseases. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) can also initiate autoimmune disease process. Therefore, HCV infection and celiac disease may occur together. Here, we describe 4 cases of celiac disease associated with chronic hepatitis C. This small case series indicates that chronic HCV infection and celiac disease are not causally associated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh.
authors.forename: Ashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garg
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh.
authors.forename: Chandrasekhar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh.
authors.forename: Ajay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duseja
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh.
authors.forename: Yogesh
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chawla
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh.
authors.forename: Radha K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Dhiman
keywords: AEA, anti-endomysial antibodies; AGA, antigliadin antibodies; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; Autoimmune disease; HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antigen; HCV, hepatitis C virus; HLA, human leukocyte antigen; Ig, immunoglobulin; RNA, ribonucleic acid; WBC, white blood cell; celiac disease; hepatitis C virus infection