PREVALENCE OF COELIAC DISEASE IN TWO DIFFERENT ETHNIC GROUPS

Abstract

The expression of coeliac disease is assumed to be influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. The aim of our study was to investigate the prevalence and HLA-type in two different ethnic groups, a German and an Italian living in South Tirol. Those two groups have very rarely intermarried. The live birth rate during the time period 1973-82 (ten years) was 42,739 for the German group and 14,874 for the Italian group. Fifty new cases of coeliac disease, born during this period, were diagnosed according to the ESPGAN-criteria, 45 were German and 5 Italian. The prevalence in the German group was 105/100.000, and 33/100.000 in the Italian group. HLA-typing was performed in 40 patients and in 50 German and 50 Italian controls. Forty-three percent of the CD patients were positive for B8, 85% for DR3, 66% for DR7 and 56% for DR3/7. No difference in the expression of HLA B8, DR3, DR7 was found in the Italian and German controls. Seventeen percent in both control groups were positive for HLA RS, 35% for HLA DR3 and 30% for HLA DR7 Conclusions: The prevalence of the disease in two ethnic groups living under similar environmental conditions was significantly different. The data presented here strongly suggests that there is no association between the prevalence of the disease and HLA-type in this population study. Further from preliminary data it may be postulated that the age of introduciton of gluten to the infant diet may affect the prevalence of coeliac disease.