Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 30, 2026
A High-Throughput Multiplexed Screening for Type 1 Diabetes, Celiac Diseases, and COVID-19
Published on: July 5, 2022
A prospective study of the incidence of childhood celiac disease
Edward J Hoffenberg1, Todd MacKenzie, Katherine J Barriga
1Department of Pediatrics, Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes, University of Colorado, Denver, USA.
Objectives:
To estimate the frequency of celiac disease (CD) in children in the general population of Denver, Colorado.
Study Design:
From 22,346 newborns characterized as expressing 0, 1, or 2 HLA-DR3(DQB1*0201) alleles, 987 were selected for a prospective stratified cohort study. Participants were followed for as long as 7 years with serial testing for serum IgA anti-transglutaminase antibodies and for evidence of CD (intestinal mucosal changes or persistent seropositivity).
Results:
Of 40 children with at least one positive serologic test, 19 had evidence of CD (10 by biopsy, 9 by persistent seropositivity). Those expressing 0, 1, or 2 HLA-DR3 alleles had, respectively, 0.3% (95% CI, 0.0-2.7), 3.4% (3.0-11.7), and 3.2% (1.0-11.0) risk for evidence of CD by age 5 years. The adjusted risk estimate for evidence of CD by age 5 years for the Denver general population was 0.9% (0.4-2.0), or 1 in 104 (1:49-221). After adjusting for number of HLA-DR3 alleles expressed, risk was higher in females: RR=3.34 (1.00-10.9, P=.048). Evidence of CD was not observed before age 2.6 years.
Conclusions:
Celiac disease may affect 0.9% of Denver children by 5 years of age. Children positive for the HLA-DR3 allele and females appear to be at increased risk.