From the Pediatrics Department. Imam Khomeini Hospital. Faculty of Medicine. Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Tehran. Iran. , H. Moayeri @ radsa net.
Abstract: (5600 Views)
The association of celiac disease and type I diabetes mellitus has been known for
some time. This study was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of celiac disease
(CD) in diabetic children and adolescents. Eighty-seven patients (44 females, 43 males)
aged 2- 18 years, with type I diabetes participated in this study. A group of 87 healthy
unrelated girls and boys matched for age and gender served as controls. They were
screened for the presence of celiac disease related marker [IgA - endomysial antibody
(EMA)] and patients who were EMA positive further investigated with intestinal biopsy.
Among diabetic patients a 3.4% prevalence of celiac disease was observed, a
value significantly higher than that found among healthy controls. Girls were more frequently
EMA positive than boys. Intestinal biopsies of all 3 patients with positive EMA
showed a histologic picture confirming the diagnosis of CD. Diabetics with CD were
significantly younger, had an earlier onset of diabetes, had a lower height and weight
standard deviation score and poorer glycemic control compared with diabetics without
CD (p