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Celiac disease in children with short stature

Seyed Mohsen Dehghani1, Ali Akbar Asadi-Pooya

  • 1Department of Pediatrics and Gestroentero-hepatology Research Centre, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. dehghanism@sums.ac.ir

Indian Journal of Pediatrics
|March 13, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Celiac disease (CD) affects 2.8% of children with short stature. Testing for CD with anti-tissue transglutaminase (TTG) antibodies is recommended for children with short stature, even without GI symptoms.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Short stature is a common pediatric concern.
  • Celiac disease (CD) can present with various symptoms, including growth failure.
  • Early diagnosis of CD is crucial for effective management and preventing long-term complications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of celiac disease in children presenting with short stature.
  • To evaluate the utility of anti-tissue transglutaminase (TTG) antibody testing in this population.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of children with short stature (height > 2 SD below the mean) were assessed.
  • Serum IgG anti-TTG antibody levels were measured using ELISA.
  • Children with elevated antibodies underwent further investigations, including duodenal biopsy.

Main Results:

  • Two out of 72 children (2.8%) with short stature had elevated IgG anti-TTG antibodies.
  • Duodenal biopsies confirmed celiac disease in these children.
  • Other findings included anemia (5.6%) and growth hormone deficiency (6.9%).

Conclusions:

  • Celiac disease should be considered in the diagnostic workup of children with short stature, particularly those with height > 3 SD below the mean.
  • Measurement of anti-TTG antibodies is a valuable tool in evaluating children with short stature, irrespective of gastrointestinal symptoms.
  • The study highlights the importance of including CD screening in the routine evaluation of pediatric short stature.
Abstract

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