Prevalence of coeliac disease in Northern Ireland

Abstract

The true prevalence of coeliac disease is difficult to estimate and it is likely that many cases are unrecognised. 1 Catassi C Ratsch IM Fabiani E et al. Coeliac disease in the year 2000: exploring the iceberg. Lancet. 1994; 343: 200-203 Summary PubMed Scopus (616) Google Scholar , 2 Maki M Collin P Coeliac disease. Lancet. 1997; 349: 1755-1759 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (563) Google Scholar We have previously reported the results of a large-scale screening programme for antibodies associated with coeliac disease. 3 McMillan SA Watson RGP McCrum EE Evans AE Factors associated with serum antibodies to reticulin, endomysium, and gliadin in an adult population. Gut. 1996; 39: 43-48 Crossref PubMed Scopus (76) Google Scholar The survey was conducted in people included in the 1991 phase of the MONICA project (MONitoring of trends and determinants in CArdiovascular disease) in Northern Ireland. To determine the prevalence and clinical manifestations of coeliac disease in this population sample, we followed up those with serologica markers (antigliadin, antiendomysial, and antireticulin antibodies) detected by screening, and compared their symptoms and laboratory results with controls matched for age and sex, who were negative for the markers. Our study is the first of its kind to report on serological screening of a randomly selected sample of the adult population. By contrast, previous studies have reported on screening blood donors, in which only those with a normal haemoglobin were included. 4 Grodzinsky E Franzen L Hed J Strom M High prevalence of celiac disease in healthy adults revealed by antigliadin antibodies. Ann Allergy. 1992; 69: 66-70 PubMed Google Scholar 113 (6.2%) of 1823 subjects had positive serology and were assessed by means of a clinical questionnaire, screening blood tests, and jejunal biopsy if consent was given.