title: INCREASED TISSUE TRANSGLUTAMINASE LEVELS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED EPILEPTIFORM ACTIVITY IN ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY AMONG PATIENTS WITH CELIAC DISEASE.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Celiac disease is an autoimmune systemic disorder in genetically predisposed individuals precipitated by gluten ingestion.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we aimed to determine asymptomatic spike-and-wave findings on electroencephalography in children with celiac disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 175 children with the diagnosis of celiac disease (study group) and 99 age- and sex-matched healthy children as controls (control group) were included in the study. In order to determine the effects of gluten free diet on laboratory and electroencephalography findings, the celiac group is further subdivided into two as newly-diagnosed and formerly-diagnosed patients. Medical histories of all children and laboratory findings were all recorded and neurologic statuses were evaluated. All patients underwent a sleep and awake electroencephalography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 175 celiac disease patients included in the study, 43 were newly diagnosed while 132 were formerly-diagnosed patients. In electroencephalography evaluation of patients the epileptiform activity was determined in 4 (9.3%) of newly diagnosed and in 2 (1.5%) of formerly diagnosed patients; on the other hand the epileptiform activity was present in only 1 (1.0%) of control cases. There was a statistically significant difference between groups in regards to the presence of epileptiform activity in electroencephalography. Pearson correlation analysis revealed that epileptiform activity in both sleep and awake electroencephalography were positively correlated with tissue transglutaminase levels (P=0.014 and P=0.019, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have determined an increased epileptiform activity frequency among newly-diagnosed celiac disease patients compared with formerly-diagnosed celiac disease patients and control cases. Moreover the tissue transglutaminase levels were also correlated with the presence of epileptiform activity in electroencephalography. Among newly diagnosed celiac disease patients, clinicians should be aware of this association and be alert about any neurological symptoms.
authors: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Gaziantep Children's Hospital, Gaziantep, Turkey.
authors: Sedat
authors: S
authors: Işikay
authors: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Şamil
authors: Ş
authors: Hizli
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Şehitkâmil Goverment Hospital, Gaziantep, Turkey.
authors: Serkan
authors: S
authors: Çoşkun
authors: Department of Pediatric Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep University, Gaziantep, Turkey.
authors: Kutluhan
authors: K
authors: Yilmaz
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D055050:Diet, Gluten-Free; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000091345:Protein Glutamine gamma Glutamyltransferase 2; D011503:Transglutaminases / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000091345:Protein Glutamine gamma Glutamyltransferase 2; D011503:Transglutaminases; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins