title: Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity among Patients Perceiving Gluten-Related Symptoms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is a recently recognized disorder, characterized by the occurrence of symptoms following gluten ingestion. It is often self-diagnosed by the patient, but should be confirmed by the response to a gluten-free diet, followed by a gluten challenge. Celiac disease (CD) and wheat allergy (WA) must first be ruled out.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  (1) to determine the frequency of visits performed for symptoms self-perceived as gluten-related; (2) to assess in this cohort, the proportion of patients satisfying the diagnostic criteria for NCGS.
  
  
  METHODS
  A two-year prospective study including all consecutive patients complaining of gluten-related symptoms. NCGS was diagnosed on the basis of the disappearance of the symptoms within 6 months of a gluten-free diet, followed by their reappearance with the reintroduction of gluten in the diet for 1 month.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three hundred and ninety two patients complaining of gluten-related symptoms were enrolled; 26 of these (6.63%) were affected by CD, 2 (0.51%) by WA and 27 were diagnosed with NCGS (6.88%). The remaining 337 patients (85.96%) did not experience any change of symptoms with a gluten-free diet. The PPV of the gluten-related symptom was found to be 7%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eighty six percent of patients reporting gluten-related symptoms have neither NCGS, nor CD, nor WA. Self-perceived gluten-related symptoms are rarely indicative of the presence of NCGS.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy.
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Capannolo
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Viscido
authors.forename: Mohamed Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Barkad
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valerii
authors.forename: Fabiana
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ciccone
authors.forename: Dina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Melideo
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Frieri
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Latella
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D059026:Diagnostic Self Evaluation; D055050:Diet, Gluten-Free; D005260:Female; D005983:Glutens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D021182:Wheat Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D005983:Glutens