Serological markers of coeliac disease in the children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

We have studied the frequency of antibodies, markers of coeliac disease, in the children presenting with type 1 diabetes mellitus and obtained clinical and metabolic characteristics of seropositive and seronegative groups. The study included 499 diabetic children and adolescents admitted to the Pediatric Department of the Endocinological Research Centre. They were examined for the presence of anti-gliadin antibodies (anti-GL) and antibodies against tissue transglutaminase (anti-TG). These serological markers of coeliac disease were detected in 7.4% of the patients. More specific anti-TG occurred in 3.2% of the cases. As many as 29.7% of the seropositive patients with DM1 had gastrointestinal symptoms, such as stool disturbances, abdominal distension and pain, vomiting, and reduced appetite. Similar symptoms were documented in 11.7% of the seronegative children. Iron deficiency anemia was diagnosed in 24.3 and 8.6% of the seropositive and seronegative patients respectively (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between the children with type 1 diabetes mellitus having serological markers of coeliac disease and the seronegative patients in terms of anthropometric characteristics, plasma levels of glycated hemoglobin and vitamin D. It is concluded that the presence of serological markers of coeliac disease is association with a number of clinical manifestations confirms the necessity of immunological screening for coeliac disease among patients with DM1.