Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 24, 2026
Recognition of Epidermal Transglutaminase by IgA and Tissue Transglutaminase 2 Antibodies in a Rare Case of Rhesus Dermatitis
Published on: December 15, 2011
Pattern of celiac disease in infants and children
Asaad M A Assiri1, Mohammed I El Mouzan, Abdullah Al Sanie
1Division of Paediatric Gastroenterology & Endocrinology, Department of Paediatrics, King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. prof.asaad@hotmail.com
Insights
This study highlights pediatric celiac disease presentation in Saudi Arabia, noting common symptoms like growth failure and diarrhea. Most children improved with a gluten-free diet, emphasizing its importance for celiac disease management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Celiac Disease Research
- Clinical Pediatrics
Background:
- Celiac disease is a significant autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten ingestion.
- Early diagnosis and management are crucial for preventing long-term complications in children.
- Understanding the specific presentation patterns in different populations aids in targeted healthcare strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the clinical presentation, diagnostic findings, and treatment outcomes of pediatric celiac disease.
- To analyze demographic and clinical data of children diagnosed with celiac disease over a decade.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of a gluten-free diet in managing pediatric celiac disease.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of pediatric celiac disease cases admitted to King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH) over 10 years.
- Review of patient demographics, age at presentation, dietary introduction, symptom onset, and family history.
- Analysis of clinical signs, biochemical markers (hemoglobin, ferritin, folate, calcium, albumin), and serological tests (anti-reticulin, anti-endomyseal, anti-gliadin antibodies).
- Histopathological examination of small bowel biopsies (initial, repeat, and gluten-challenge biopsies).
Main Results:
- 62 pediatric celiac disease cases were identified over 10 years.
- Mean age at presentation was 6.5 months, with symptom onset around 6 months, coinciding with cereal introduction.
- Common symptoms included growth failure (74.6%), diarrhea (57%), and abdominal distension (33%).
- Short stature (69.8%) and pallor (40.3%) were significant physical signs.
- All patients presented with total villous atrophy; repeat biopsies showed improvement on gluten-free diet.
- Most children demonstrated clinical improvement after adopting a gluten-free diet.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric celiac disease in this cohort presented with characteristic gastrointestinal and growth-related symptoms.
- Timely diagnosis through serological testing and biopsy is essential.
- A gluten-free diet is an effective treatment, leading to significant clinical improvement and histological recovery.
Abstract:
This study involved all children with celiac disease admitted and seen in the Paediatric Gastroenterology Clinic at King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH) over a 10-year period. In the first year, we identified 62 cases with celiac disease. Their mean age at presentation, introduction to cereals in the diet, and onset of symptoms were 6.5, 6 and 6 months, respectively, and most of the children belonged to the indigenous population. There were three Arabia families with more than one affected child and most families were of good social status. The main symptoms noted were diarrhoea in 34 (57%), growth failure in 47 (74.6%), abdominal distension in 21 (33%), and vomiting in 14 patients (14%). The significant physical signs at the time of presentation were short stature, seen in 44 patients (69.8%), pallor in 25 (40.3%) and abdominal distention in 21 (33%). The mean haemoglobin, serum feritin, serum folate, calcium, and serum albumin were 10.25 g/dL, 2.49 g/mL, 0.25 ng/mL, 8.86 mg/dL, and 3.7 g/dL. The mean anti-reticulin IgG, anti-endomyseal IgG, IgA and anti-gliadin IgG, IgA were one in 246, 332, 720, 121 and 300 units. There was total villous atrophy in each patient at the time of initial presentation; repeat small bowel biopsies were done in 12 patients of whom 6, 4 and 2 had normal villi, partial villous atrophy and subtotal villous atrophy, respectively. A third biopsy was performed in 2 patients while on gluten containing diet, which revealed villous atrophy. Most of the children improved on gluten-free diet.
Related Concept Videos
01:12Type I Diabetes I: Introduction
01:25Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease
01:30Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by transmural...
01:27Glucose Transporters
Facilitated diffusion-glucose transporters (GLUTs) are encoded by the solute-linked carrier (SLC) family 2, subfamily A gene family, or SLC2A. The 14 GLUT protein members are distributed into three classes:
01:23Anatomy of the Intestines
Small Intestines
The small intestine is an ~7 meter-long tube with an inner diameter of just 2.5 cm. Since most nutrients are absorbed here, the inner lining of the small...
01:12Giardiasis