title: Coeliac Disease in the 21st Century: No Longer "Kids' Stuff".
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aimed to determine if Coeliac disease (CD) can be still be considered a predominantly paediatric disorder, in spite of the increased incidence of adult-onset CD reported in recent years.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational, descriptive, and retrospective study was developed at two Spanish hospitals. Data was collected and analyzed from all paediatric and adult patients newly diagnosed with CD throughout the year 2010. CD diagnoses were based on a concordant clinical history, serology, HLA-DQ compatibility, the presence of mucosal lesions in duodenal biopsies with gluten dependence of symptoms, and histological lesions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 79 patients were diagnosed with CD throughout 2010, of which 68 (86.1%) were adults. Classic symptoms (diarrhoea and iron-deficiency anaemia) were more frequent in children (90.9%), being present in only 54.4% of adults (p = 0.02). Adult patients showed, mainly, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, and GERD-related symptoms. Villous atrophy (Marsh III) was present in 63.7% of children, but only in 19.1% of adults (p = 0.004). Positive tTGA was present in 81.8% of the children and only in 19.1% of the adults (p = 0.004). Haemoglobin levels were significantly lower in children (p = 0.025), but no differences were observed in iron and ferritin blood levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study shows that adult-onset CD was the predominant presentation in two hospitals in Spain in the year 2010. Therefore, CD can no longer be considered a predominantly paediatric disorder. Marsh I and negative tTGA titters are characteristic in most of adults. New diagnostic algorithms are needed to improve correct diagnosis of CD in adults.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital General de Tomelloso, Tomelloso, Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: Alfredo J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lucendo
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Nutrition, Hospital General de Tomelloso, Tomelloso, Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: Álvaro
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: García-Manzanares
authors.affiliation: Research Unit, Hospital General La Mancha Centro, Alcázar de San Juan, Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: Ángel
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Arias
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology. Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias. Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fuentes
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology. Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias. Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: Noemí
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Álvarez
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology. Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias. Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital General de Tomelloso, Tomelloso, Ciudad Real, Spain.
authors.forename: Danila
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guagnozzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology. Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias. Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodrigo
keywords: Adult patient; Anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies: gluten enteropathy; Celiac disease