Prevalence of undiagnosed celiac disease in the adult general population of Italy in 1990: Baseline reference for testing current increasing incidence?

Abstract

we read with interest the recent report on prevalence and detection rate of celiac disease (CD) from a large screening conducted in schoolchildren in Italy and were intrigued by the signal of a recent increased frequency of the disease in the 5–11 years aged population [ [1] Lionetti E. Pjetraj D. Gatti S. Catassi G. Bellantoni A. Boffardi M. Cananzi M. Cinquetti M. Francavilla R. Malamisura B. Montuori M. Zuccotti G. Cristofori F. Gaio P. Passaro T. Penagini F. Testa A. Trovato C.M. Catassi C. Prevalence and detection rate of celiac disease in Italy: results of a SIGENP multicenter screening in school-age children. Dig Liver Dis. 2023; (S1590-8658(22)00871-4Epub ahead of printPMID: 36682923)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dld.2022.12.023 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (0) Google Scholar ]. Overall, the trend of increasing incidence of autoimmune diseases has long been identified [ [2] Bach J.F. The effect of infections on susceptibility to autoimmune and allergic diseases. N Engl J Med. 2002; 347 (PMID: 12239261): 911-920https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra020100 Crossref PubMed Scopus (2076) Google Scholar ], but evidence for single diseases is spotted and incomplete. With regard to CD, its prevalence in the general population showed large differences across different European countries [ [3] Mustalahti K. Catassi C. Reunanen A. Fabiani E. Heier M. McMillan S. Murray L. Metzger M.H. Gasparin M. Bravi E. Mäki M. Coeliac E.U. Cluster, Project EpidemiologyThe prevalence of celiac disease in Europe: results of a centralized, international mass screening project. Ann Med. 2010; 42 (PMID: 21070098): 587-595https://doi.org/10.3109/07853890.2010.505931 Crossref PubMed Scopus (603) Google Scholar ] and UK [ [4] West J. Logan R.F. Hill P.G. Lloyd A. Lewis S. Hubbard R. Reader R. Holmes G.K. Khaw K.T. Seroprevalence, correlates, and characteristics of undetected coeliac disease in England. Gut. 2003; 52 (PMID: 12801951PMCID: PMC1773707): 960-965https://doi.org/10.1136/gut.52.7.960 Crossref PubMed Scopus (427) Google Scholar ]. In Italy, the reported prevalence is around 0.5–0.7% [ [3] Mustalahti K. Catassi C. Reunanen A. Fabiani E. Heier M. McMillan S. Murray L. Metzger M.H. Gasparin M. Bravi E. Mäki M. Coeliac E.U. Cluster, Project EpidemiologyThe prevalence of celiac disease in Europe: results of a centralized, international mass screening project. Ann Med. 2010; 42 (PMID: 21070098): 587-595https://doi.org/10.3109/07853890.2010.505931 Crossref PubMed Scopus (603) Google Scholar , [5] Volta U. Bellentani S. Bianchi F.B. Brandi G. De Franceschi L. Miglioli L. Granito A. Balli F. Tiribelli C. High prevalence of celiac disease in Italian general population. Dig Dis Sci. 2001; 46 (PMID: 11478502): 1500-1505https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1010648122797 Crossref PubMed Scopus (0) Google Scholar , but further information would be of relevance in view of imminent public health programs planning CD screening in association with type 1 diabetes in the Italian general population (Italian Budget Law 2023 www.gazzettaufficiale.it/eli/id/2022/12/29/22G00211/sg).