Celiac disease in children and adolescents with autoimmune hepatitis: a single-centre experience

Abstract

Objectives: Celiac disease (CD) is increasingly reported from North Africa, including Egypt. Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is considered a high risk factor for CD. We aimed to investigate the frequency of CD diagnosis in AIH.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 26 AIH patients aged 3.5-21 (mean 9.98 ± 3.94) years and 20 healthy age- and sex-matched controls. Serodiagnosis of CD was based on the most sensitive tests namely immunoglobulin A (IgA) human tissue transglutaminase antibody (IgA-tTGA) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and/or IgA endomysial antibody (IgA-EMA) by immunofluoresence and confirmed the diagnosis by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and histo-pathological findings in jejunal biopsy.

Results: IgA-EMA was positive in four patients (15.4%), whereas IgA-tTGA was positive in two of them (7.7%). Histopathology was confirmatory in three (11.5%) seropositive patients.

Conclusion: The high prevalence (11.5%) of CD among Egyptian children with AIH indicates that CD exists in high-risk groups in our region and must be carefully looked into.