Presenting Pattern of Pediatric Celiac Disease

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Autoimmune Diseases
• Clinical Research

Background:

• Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder impacting nutrition and growth in children.
• Increased diagnosis rates are linked to improved testing and physician awareness.
• Understanding regional presentation patterns is crucial for early detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the clinical presentation patterns of pediatric celiac disease in western New York.
• To identify common symptoms and associated conditions in newly diagnosed children.
• To compare findings with classical CD presentations.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of pediatric CD patients from 2003-2013.
• Data collected included demographics, presenting symptoms, and diagnostic test results (serology, disaccharidase assay, Marsh score).
• Analysis focused on symptom prevalence and correlations between clinical and diagnostic parameters.

Main Results:

• 165 pediatric CD patients were evaluated, with a mean age of 10.7 years.
• Most frequent presenting symptoms were abdominal pain (52.7%) and constipation (38.9%).
• No significant correlations were found between Marsh score, tTG IgA levels, disaccharidase assays, and presenting features.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric celiac disease in western New York is frequently diagnosed with abdominal pain and constipation.
• Patients diagnosed in this cohort were older than typically described, indicating a potential shift in presentation.
• These findings suggest possible variations in long-term outcomes and risk factors for CD in this population.