title: Prevalence of celiac disease in children with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of celiac disease (CD) in the patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Simultaneous presentation of these two diseases has been recently reported in some studies; however, few researches have been done on children. The sooner CD is diagnosed, the better the prognosis will be, especially in the patients with a chronic disease like DCM.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, 82 cases were screened for CD by measuring the level of anti-body against transglutaminase (anti tTG). These cases included 41 patients with DCM labeled according to clinical evaluation and echocardiography and 41 healthy children who had been referred for routine checkup. All the patients were between 1 and 18 years old. The expired patients and those with previous diagnosis of CD were excluded from the study. Besides, the patients with positive antibody results underwent intestinal biopsy to match the serology findings with histopathology of CD in the intestine. Finally, the data were analyzed by the SPSS statistical software (v. 16) and through t-test and Pearson correlation coefficient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to the findings, 1/41 (2.5%) DCM cases had positive tTG antibody level and negative intestinal biopsy which is classified as potential CD in the children with DCM. In addition, 7/41 (17%) patients had borderline anti body level. A direct correlation was observed between age and anti tTG level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is beneficial to assess CD in DCM children with unknown cause.
authors: Transplant and Neonatology Research Center.
authors: Mozhgan
authors: M
authors: Zahmatkeshan
authors: Department of Pediatrics.
authors: Mahsa
authors: M
authors: Fallahpoor
authors: Neonatology and Cardiac Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors: Hamid
authors: H
authors: Amoozgar
keywords: Celiac Disease; Children; Dilated Cardiomyopathy; Heart