The frequency of celiac disease in children with autoimmune thyroiditis

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Gastroenterology
• Immunology

Background:

• Autoimmune thyroiditis (AT) and celiac disease (CD) are common autoimmune disorders.
• While the association between AT and CD is established in adults, it is less understood in children.
• Investigating CD prevalence in pediatric AT patients is crucial for early diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the frequency of celiac disease (CD) in children diagnosed with autoimmune thyroiditis (AT).
• To explore the potential co-occurrence and relationship between these two autoimmune conditions in a pediatric cohort.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 66 children with AT was conducted.
• Serum levels of total IgA and tissue transglutaminase IgA (tTG IgA) were measured.
• Positive tTG IgA results prompted testing for anti-endomysium IgA antibodies (EMA), followed by gastroduodenoscopy for definitive CD diagnosis in eligible patients.

Main Results:

• Out of 66 AT patients, 4.5% (3/66) tested positive for tTG IgA.
• Only 1.5% (1/66) showed positive EMA antibodies, leading to a confirmed CD diagnosis via biopsy.
• An additional patient with AT had a prior CD diagnosis, bringing the total to 3.0% (2/66) with co-existing CD.

Conclusions:

• The study identified a 3.0% prevalence of celiac disease (CD) among children with autoimmune thyroiditis (AT).
• These findings suggest a significant association between CD and AT in the pediatric population.
• Further multicentric, prospective research is recommended to validate and strengthen these observations.