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Dietary compliance in screening‐detected coeliac disease adolescents
Author(s) -
Fabiani E,
Catassi C,
Villari A,
Gismondi P,
Pierdomenico R,
Rätsch IM,
Coppa GV,
Giorgi PL
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1996.tb14256.x
Subject(s) - medicine , coeliac disease , gluten free , gastroenterology , antibody , gluten , disease , pediatrics , immunology , pathology
In 1992–94 we screened 6315 students for coeliac disease (CD) by testing antigliadin antibodies (AGA) as the first‐level investigation. We found 28 biopsy‐proven coeliac patients who were invited to start the gluten‐free diet (GFD). The aim of this study was a clinical and laboratory follow‐up in these screening–detected coeliac adolescents. Patients were 17 females and 11 males with a mean age at diagnosis of 12.8 ± 1 years (range 11–14). Mean follow‐up duration time was 23 ± 7 months (range 9–37). Twenty‐three of the 28 screening‐detected coeliac patients came to the control visit, 3 refused the follow‐up and 2 subjects were not found. Twelve patients (52.2%) stated that they never ate any gluten‐containing food, while 11 of them (47.8%) reported occasional transgressions to the diet. GFD acceptance was reported as good ( n = 6), moderate ( n = 11) or low ( n = 6). After starting the GFD, signs of improvement were seen in most patients, such as weight gain, increased height velocity and increased feeling of well‐being. AGA (both IgG and IgA classes) and antiendomysium antibodies (AEA) were normal in 19 subjects, 2 cases had IgG‐AG A and AEA positivity, 1 patient showed abnormal AGA and AEA levels, while isolated IgA‐AGA positivity persisted in 1 case. This study shows that even silent CD cases can clinically benefit from the GFD. The consequences of occasional transgressions to the GFD remain unclear.