title: Gluten Sensitivity among Egyptian Infants with Congenital Heart Disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gastrointestinal symptoms are a common feature in infants with congenital heart disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to evaluate age-dependent serum levels of antigliadin antibodies among malnourished Egyptian infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) and gastrointestinal symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case-control study conducted on 60 infants with established congenital heart disease. They were subdivided into cyanotic and acyanotic groups, and each group includes 30 patients compared with thirty apparently healthy infants of matched age, sex, and social class. Serum antigliadin antibodies levels were measured using ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of introduction of cereals in the diet and appearance of gastrointestinal symptoms were six months. On comparison with controls, patients showed highly significant higher serum levels of antigliadin antibodies (P < 0.000). On analysing risk factors using odds ratio, the age at onset of GIT symptoms, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and distension had been found to be significantly associated with high serum antigliadin antibodies among malnourished CHD infants with a prediction of 95%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum IgA, IgM, and IgG class antibodies to gliadin play a significant role in the pathogenesis of malnutrition in infants with CHD. Gluten containing foods should never be introduced before the end of the six months.
authors.affiliation: Child Health Department, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: Inas R
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0168-7663
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: El-Alameey
authors.affiliation: Hormones Department, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: Hanaa H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Child Health Department, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: Sawsan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Tawfik
authors.affiliation: Child Health Department, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: Fawzia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hassaballa
authors.affiliation: Child Health Department, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ayman M Abdel
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Gawad
authors.affiliation: Environmental and Occupational Medicine Department, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: Eman
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eltahlawy
keywords: Congenital Heart; Gluten Sensitivity; Infants