Latent and potential celiac disease in epileptic Turkish children.

In this study, we measured tissue transglutaminase IgA antibody for the serologic screening of celiac disease in 70 children with epilepsy. A pathologic titer of tissue transglutaminase IgA antibody was found in eight patients (4.7%). Small intestinal biopsies were performed in all antibody-positive patients, and two of them had small bowel histology typical of celiac disease (1.17%). Six had normal histology and were considered to have potential celiac disease. The prevalence of celiac disease in the epileptic group was 1.17%. None of the serum samples of 103 healthy children comprising the control group were positive for tissue transglutaminase IgA antibody. Therefore, we suggest that epileptic children be screened for celiac disease. (J Child Neurol 2006;21:6-7).