Coeliac Disease in Children and Adolescents with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of coeliac disease in 189 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (age range 10 months to 28.2 years). All patients were tested for gliadin IgA antibodies and endomysium antibodies. Twenty-three patients had high gliadin IgA levels and 14 had endomysium antibodies. Antibody positive subjects were selected for a small bowel biopsy. Biopsy was performed in 11 subjects: 1 refused, 1 was normal and 9 had subtotal or total villous atrophy suggestive of coeliac disease. The prevalence of coeliac disease in this large group of diabetic children, adolescents, and young adults was 4.8%, confirming that the risk of developing coeliac disease is substantially increased in diabetic children.