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Prevalence of Celiac Disease in Children with Autoimmune Hepatitis and vice versa
Mehri Najafi1, Nooshin Sadjadei2, Kambiz Eftekhari3
1Department of Pediatrics, ; Children's Medical Center, Pediatrics Center of Excellence.
Insights
Autoimmune hepatitis and celiac disease frequently co-occur. Routine screening for celiac disease is recommended in autoimmune hepatitis patients, and vice versa, to identify associated autoimmune disorders.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology
- Immunology
Background:
- Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder with a high risk of co-occurrence with autoimmune liver disease (ALD).
- Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic liver disease that frequently associates with other autoimmune conditions, including CD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of celiac disease in patients diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis.
- To investigate the prevalence of autoimmune hepatitis in patients with diagnosed celiac disease.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving pediatric patients.
- Serological screening and endoscopic evaluation for celiac disease in autoimmune hepatitis patients.
- Serum aminotransferase measurement, autoantibody testing, and liver biopsy in celiac disease patients with abnormal liver function.
Main Results:
- Of 96 patients, 64 had AIH and 32 had CD.
- Celiac disease was identified in 4.7% of AIH patients.
- Autoimmune hepatitis was confirmed in 12.5% of CD patients, with 3.1% having concurrent celiac hepatitis.
Conclusions:
- Autoimmune liver disease can be associated with latent celiac disease.
- Routine serological screening for celiac disease is advised for patients with abnormal serum aminotransferases, especially those with chronic liver disease.
- Celiac disease is often linked to other autoimmune diseases, notably autoimmune hepatitis.
Objective:
Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which the risk of autoimmune liver disease is high. Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic and progressive entity and the risk of its being associated with other autoimmune disorders such as celiac disease is high also. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of celiac disease in patients with autoimmune hepatitis and vice versa.
Methods:
In a cross-sectional study children with autoimmune hepatitis underwent serological screening and endoscopy for celiac disease. In patients with celiac disease, serum aminotransferases were measured and, if abnormal, autoantibodies related to autoimmune hepatitis were checked and needle liver biopsy was performed.
Findings:
Of the 96 patients, 64 had autoimmune hepatitis and 32 celiac disease. Among patients with autoimmune hepatitis only three (4.7%) were compatible with celiac disease. In the group of patients with celiac disease, autoimmune hepatitis was confirmed in four (12.5%) cases. We consider important to state that 3.1% of this group had celiac hepatitis.
Conclusion:
Autoimmune liver disease is sometimes associated with latent celiac disease. Serological screening for celiac disease should be routinely done in patients with abnormal serum aminotransferases, particularly those with chronic liver disease. On the other hand, celiac disease is often accompanied by other autoimmune diseases, including autoimmune hepatitis.
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