Long-term laboratory follow-up is essential in pediatric patients with celiac

Celiac disease (CeD) requires long-term follow. The role of laboratory testing other than celiac serology during follow up is unclear. We aimed to determine which laboratory tests are required during follow up based on the prevalence of abnormal tests and timing of abnormalities appearance.

Retrospective chart-review of children diagnosed with CeD between 1999 and 2018 was conducted. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were recorded from diagnosis and during follow-up.

The cohort included 500 children with CeD [59.8% females, median(IQR) age at diagnosis 5.7(3.7-8.9) years]. Mean follow-up time was 5.5 years (range 1.5-16.2). The most frequently abnormal laboratory tests at time of diagnosis were low ferritin (64.3%), vitamin D (33.6%), zinc (29.9%), hemoglobin (29.2%), and folate (14.7%). In 74 (14.8%) patients, anemia developed only during follow up, while in another 46 patients, anemia resolved after diagnosis and reappeared later (after a mean ± SD 2.8 ± 2.1 years from CeD diagnosis, for the entire group). Abnormal values that developed during follow up were low folate in 40 patients (3.9 ± 2.6 years), and abnormal liver enzymes in 18 patients (3.1 ± 2.7 years). Elevated TSH during follow-up was observed in 14/280 (5%) patients, after a mean ± SD of 2.2 ± 1.6 years from diagnosis. Patients diagnosed as teenagers (12-18 years) had shorter intervals to reappearance of anemia and folate deficiency.

Multiple laboratory abnormalities may occur in pediatric patients with CeD, both at diagnosis and during long-term follow-up. We suggest continued monitoring of hemoglobin, ferritin, folate, liver, and thyroid function in addition to celiac serology during follow-up of CeD.