Simona Gatti1, Elena Lionetti1, Linda Balanzoni2, Anil K Verma1, Tiziana Galeazzi1, Rosaria Gesuita3, Novella Scattolo4, Mauro Cinquetti2, Alessio Fasano5, Carlo Catassi6. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy. 2. Department of Pediatrics, "G. Fracastoro" Hospital, AULSS9 Verona, Italy. 3. Department of Biostatistics and Medical Information Technology, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy. 4. Department of Clinical Chemistry, "G. Fracastoro" Hospital, AULSS9 Verona, Italy. 5. Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. 6. Department of Pediatrics, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy; Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address: c.catassi@univpm.it.
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Celiac disease is one of the most common diseases worldwide, with an apparent trend of increasing prevalence. We investigated the prevalence of celiac disease in children in Italy in 2015-2016 and compared that with data from 25 years ago. METHODS: We screened 4570 children (5-11 years old, 80.1% of the eligible population) from metropolitan areas of Ancona and Verona for HLA genes associated with increased risk of celiac disease, and for total serum levels of IgA and IgA class anti-tissue transglutaminase in HLA positives. Diagnoses of celiac disease were confirmed by detection of anti-endomysial antibody and analysis of intestinal biopsies. The prevalence of celiac autoimmunity and celiac disease were calculated and compared with values from the same geographical area during the years 1993-1995, after adjustment for the different diagnostic algorithm. RESULTS: We identified 1960 children with celiac disease-associated haplotypes (43% of children screened; 95% CI, 40.8%-45.2%). The prevalence of celiac disease autoimmunity in the HLA-positive subjects was 96/1706 (5.62%; 95% CI, 4.53%-6.71%) and 54 of these children satisfied the diagnostic criteria for celiac disease. In the eligible population there were other 23 known cases of celiac disease. The overall estimated prevalence of celiac disease was 1.58% (95% CI, 1.26%-1.90%); this value is significantly higher than the 1993-1995 adjusted prevalence (0.88%; 95% CI, 0.74%-1.02%). CONCLUSIONS: We found the prevalence of celiac disease in children in Italy to be greater than 1.5%; this value has increased significantly over the past 25 years. Studies are needed to determine the causes of this large increase.
BACKGROUND & AIMS:Celiac disease is one of the most common diseases worldwide, with an apparent trend of increasing prevalence. We investigated the prevalence of celiac disease in children in Italy in 2015-2016 and compared that with data from 25 years ago. METHODS: We screened 4570 children (5-11 years old, 80.1% of the eligible population) from metropolitan areas of Ancona and Verona for HLA genes associated with increased risk of celiac disease, and for total serum levels of IgA and IgA class anti-tissue transglutaminase in HLA positives. Diagnoses of celiac disease were confirmed by detection of anti-endomysial antibody and analysis of intestinal biopsies. The prevalence of celiac autoimmunity and celiac disease were calculated and compared with values from the same geographical area during the years 1993-1995, after adjustment for the different diagnostic algorithm. RESULTS: We identified 1960 children with celiac disease-associated haplotypes (43% of children screened; 95% CI, 40.8%-45.2%). The prevalence of celiac disease autoimmunity in the HLA-positive subjects was 96/1706 (5.62%; 95% CI, 4.53%-6.71%) and 54 of these children satisfied the diagnostic criteria for celiac disease. In the eligible population there were other 23 known cases of celiac disease. The overall estimated prevalence of celiac disease was 1.58% (95% CI, 1.26%-1.90%); this value is significantly higher than the 1993-1995 adjusted prevalence (0.88%; 95% CI, 0.74%-1.02%). CONCLUSIONS: We found the prevalence of celiac disease in children in Italy to be greater than 1.5%; this value has increased significantly over the past 25 years. Studies are needed to determine the causes of this large increase.
Authors: Govind K Makharia; Prashant Singh; Carlo Catassi; David S Sanders; Daniel Leffler; Raja Affendi Raja Ali; Julio C Bai Journal: Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol Date: 2022-01-03 Impact factor: 46.802
Authors: Marisa G Stahl; Cristy Geno Rasmussen; Fran Dong; Kathleen Waugh; Jill M Norris; Judith Baxter; Liping Yu; Andrea K Steck; Brigitte I Frohnert; Edwin Liu; Marian J Rewers Journal: Am J Gastroenterol Date: 2021-01-01 Impact factor: 12.045