The prevalence of coeliac disease in rheumatoid arthritis

Identifying shared genetic architecture between rheumatoid arthritis and other conditions: a phenome-wide association study with genetic risk scores

BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) shares genetic variants with other autoimmune conditions, but existing studies test the association between RA variants with a pre-defined set of phenotypes. The objective of this study was to perform a large-scale, systemic screen to determine phenotypes that share genetic architecture with RA to inform our understanding of shared pathways.

METHODS

In the UK Biobank (UKB), we constructed RA genetic risk scores (GRS) incorporating human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and non-HLA risk alleles. Phenotypes were defined using groupings of International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. Patients with an RA code were excluded to mitigate the possibility of associations being driven by the diagnosis or management of RA. We performed a phenome-wide association study, testing the association between the RA GRS with phenotypes using multivariate generalized estimating equations that adjusted for age, sex, and first five principal components. Statistical significance was defined using Bonferroni correction. Results were replicated in an independent cohort and replicated phenotypes were validated using medical record review of patients.

FINDINGS

We studied n = 316,166 subjects from UKB without evidence of RA and screened for association between the RA GRS and n = 1317 phenotypes. In the UKB, 20 phenotypes were significantly associated with the RA GRS, of which 13 (65%) were immune mediated conditions including polymyalgia rheumatica, granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), type 1 diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. We further identified a novel association in Celiac disease where the HLA and non-HLA alleles had strong associations in opposite directions. Strikingly, we observed that the non-HLA GRS was exclusively associated with greater risk of the validated conditions, suggesting shared underlying pathways outside the HLA region.

INTERPRETATION

This study replicated and identified novel autoimmune phenotypes verified by medical record review that share immune pathways with RA and may inform opportunities for shared treatment targets, as well as risk assessment for conditions with a paucity of genomic data, such as GPA.

FUNDING

This research was funded by the US National Institutes of Health (P30AR072577, R21AR078339, R35GM142879, T32AR007530) and the Harold and DuVal Bowen Fund.

Clinical features, treatment, and outcomes of celiac-associated arthritis: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Although arthritis is recognized as an extra-intestinal manifestation of celiac disease, little is known about the clinical course and outcomes of pediatric celiac-associated arthritis. This study describes clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of children with celiac-associated arthritis.

METHODS

This was a retrospective cohort study of children with celiac disease seen in pediatric rheumatology clinic between 2004 and 2021 for joint complaints. Data was abstracted from electronic health records. Patient demographics and clinical manifestations were evaluated using standard descriptive statistics. Physician- and patient-reported outcomes were evaluated at the index visit, 6-month follow-up, and last recorded visit, and were compared using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine patients with celiac disease were evaluated for joint complaints, and 13 were diagnosed with arthritis. Their mean age was 8.9 years (SD 5.9), and 61.5% were female. Celiac disease diagnosis was made before arthritis diagnosis in only 2 cases (15.4%). Initial testing that led to the celiac disease diagnosis was obtained by the rheumatologist in 6 cases (46.2%). Only 8 patients (61.5%) had concomitant GI symptoms, and of these, 3 patients had BMI z-scores <-1.64 and 1 had impaired linear growth. Arthritis presentation was most often oligoarticular (76.9%) and asymmetric (84.6%). Most cases required systemic therapy (n = 11, 84.6%) with DMARDs, biologics, or both. Of the 10 patients who required systemic therapy and reported compliance with the gluten-free diet, 3 (30%) were able to stop systemic medications. Two of 3 patients who cleared celiac serologies came off systemic medications. Statistically significant improvement was noted in the number of joints involved (p = 0.02) and physician global assessment of disease activity (p = 0.03) between the index and final visit.

CONCLUSIONS

Rheumatologists play an important role in the identification of celiac disease, as arthritis was the presenting symptom in most cases and was not always associated with GI symptoms or poor growth. The arthritis was most often oligoarticular and asymmetric. Most children required systemic therapy. The gluten-free diet may not be sufficient to manage arthritis, but antibody clearance may be an indicator of higher likelihood of disease control off medications. Outcomes are promising with a combination of diet and medical therapy.

Risk of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis in Patients With Celiac Disease: A Population-Based Cohort Study

INTRODUCTION

Celiac disease (CD) is associated with many immune-mediated conditions, but a definitive epidemiological association between CD and juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has not been established. We quantified the risk of JIA and RA among patients with CD using a population-based cohort.

METHODS

We identified patients diagnosed with biopsy-proven CD between 2004 and 2017 using data from a national histopathology cohort in Sweden. Each patient was matched by age, sex, calendar year, and geographic region to reference individuals in the general population. We calculated the incidence and estimated the relative risk, through Cox proportional hazards models, of JIA in individuals with CD aged <18 and of RA in individuals with CD aged ≥18.

RESULTS

We identified 24,014 individuals with CD who were matched to 117,397 reference individuals from the general population. Among individuals aged <18, the incidence rate of JIA was 5.9 per 10,000 person-years in patients with CD and 2.2 per 10,000 person-years in the general population (n events = 40 and 73, respectively; hazard ratio [HR] 2.68, 95% confidence interval 1.82-3.95) over a follow-up of 7.0 years. Among individuals aged ≥ 18, the incidence of RA was 8.4 per 10,000 person-years in CD and 5.1 per 10,000 person-years in matched comparators (n events = 110 and 322, respectively; HR 1.70, 95% confidence interval 1.36-2.12) over a follow-up of 8.8 years.

DISCUSSION

Among children with CD, JIA develops nearly 3 times as often as it does in the general population, and among adults with CD, RA occurs nearly 2 times as often. Clinicians caring for patients with CD with joint symptoms should have a low threshold to evaluate for JIA or RA.

Causal association between rheumatoid arthritis and celiac disease: A bidirectional two-sample mendelian randomization study

Objectives: Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) has been associated with Celiac Disease (CD) in previous observational epidemiological studies. However, evidence for this association is limited and inconsistent, and it remains uncertain whether the association is causal or due to confounding or reverse causality. This study aimed to assess the bidirectional causal relationship between RA and CD. Methods: In this two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study, instrumental variables (IVs) for RA were derived from a genome-wide association studies (GWAS) meta-analysis including 58,284 subjects. Summary statistics for CD originated from a GWAS meta-analysis with 15,283 subjects. The inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method was used as the primary analysis. Four complementary methods were applied, including the weighted-median, weighted mode, MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) test and MR-Egger regression, to strengthen the effect estimates. Results: Positive causal effects of genetically increased RA risk on CD were derived [IVW odds ratio (OR): 1.46, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.19-1.79, p = 3.21E-04]. The results of reverse MR analysis demonstrated no significant causal effect of CD on RA (IVW OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.91-1.21, p = 0.499). According to the sensitivity analysis, horizontal pleiotropy was unlikely to distort the causal estimates. Conclusion: This study reveals a causality of RA on CD but not CD on RA among patients of European descent. This outcome suggests that the features and indicators of CD should regularly be assessed for RA patients.

Frequency of serological markers of rheumatoid arthritis in adult patients with active celiac disease

BACKGROUND

Celiac disease (CD) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are multisystem autoimmune diseases affecting 1% of general populationa. Both diseases share genetic and immunological features.

AIM

In this retrospective study, we aim to determine the frequency of auto-antibodies of RA in adult patients with CD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seventy seven adult patients with active CD were included in the present study. Ninety healthy blood donors (HBD) served as control group. Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides antibodies (CCP-Ab) and rheumatoid factors (RF; IgA, IgG and IgM) were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for patients and control group. For statistical analysis, we used Chi-square or Fisher's exact test.

RESULTS

Our study included 77 adult patients with active celiac disease (57 female, 20 male). Twenty-four (31.2%) active celiac patients and 7 (7.8%) blood donors had CCP-Ab or RF (31.2% vs 7.8%, p < 10-4). Only two patients (2.6%) had both CCP-Ab and RF. IgA was the predominant isotype of RF in celiac patients (n = 18; 23.4%) while none of healthy blood donors had RF-IgA (23.4% vs 0.0%, p < 10-4).

CONCLUSION

The current study has shown that CD is associated with a high frequency of RF-IgA suggesting that celiac patients could be at a higher risk of developing RA.

Serological screening for coeliac disease in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is characterized by autoimmune aetiology. A gene locus 4q27 related to rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and coeliac disease is associated with susceptibility to JIA. There are reports indicating several patients with JIA had been diagnosed with CD. We aimed to assess the frequency of coeliac disease (CD) in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This prospective study was carried out from October 2015 to August 2016 and included 96 patients with JIA. All patients were evaluated in terms of clinical and laboratory findings of CD. Levels of total IgA and tissue transglutaminase antibody (tTG) IgA were measured in all patients. Those with increased level of tTG IgA were further tested for anti-endomysium IgA antibodies (EMA). Gastroduodenoscopy were planned for a definite diagnosis of CD in patients with positive EMA.

RESULTS

Of the 96 patients in our study, 34 (35.4%) had oligoarticular form of JIA, 29 (30.2%) had polyarticular form, 12 (12.5%) had ERA form, 11 (11.5%) had systemic form, and 10 (10.4%) had psoriatic form. Sixteen of our patients (16.6%) were not using any drugs during the study. Neither EMA IgA antibodies were analysed nor gastro-duodenoscopy was performed because no patients were positive for tTG IgA. There was no difference in terms of tTG levels between the patients using NSAIDs or other drugs.

CONCLUSION

We did not find CD in children with JIA. Long term studies with more JIA patients are needed to provide more precise interpretation.

Overlap of Characteristic Serological Antibodies in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Wheat-Related Disorders

Background and Aims

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and celiac disease (CD) are members of the autoimmune disease family while they have been shown to share multiple aspects in epidemiology and clinical manifestations. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of wheat protein antibodies in RA seropositive subjects and the presence of RA diagnostic markers in subjects with seropositive wheat-related disorders including CD.

Methods

Serum samples were collected from 844 subjects with joint pain and/or gastrointestinal symptoms and tested by a CD panel (anti-tTG and anti-DGP), a Wheat Zoomer (WZ) antibody panel (IgG/IgA to 14 wheat proteins), and a RA panel (anti-CCP and anti-RF). Retrospective analysis was completed using de-identified clinical data and test results.

Results

The prevalence of RA markers was first investigated in CD- or WZ-positive subjects and negative controls. 49 subjects were seropositive in the CD panel with 10 (20%) RA positivity. 605 subjects were seropositive in the WZ panel with 106 (18%) RA positivity. 222 subjects were seronegative in either panels with 12 (6%) RA positivity. Next, the frequency of the CD markers and the clinically relevant wheat protein antibodies were investigated in the RA-positive subjects and negative controls. 128 subjects in this cohort were seropositive in the RA panel with 10 (8%) CD positivity and 106 (83%) WZ positivity, compared to 716 RA seronegative controls with 39 (5%) CD positivity and 499 (70%) WZ positivity.

Conclusions

Our data presents an apparent trend of overlapped serological antibody biomarker positivity in RA and wheat-related disorders.

Celiac Disease-Musculoskeletal Manifestations and Mechanisms in Children to Adults

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

We aim to review the current literature on the association of musculoskeletal disorders and celiac disease that is a common disorder, affecting about 1% of the population. Extra-intestinal symptoms and presentations predominate.

RECENT FINDINGS

While the literature supports an association with reduced bone mineral density and increased fracture risk and celiac disease, there is little evidence supporting associations with other rheumatological conditions. Patients frequently report musculoskeletal symptoms; however, studies of specific disease entities suffer from a lack of standardization of testing for celiac disease and a lack of control groups. Well-controlled, preferably population-based studies are required to further explore a relationship between celiac disease and musculoskeletal disorders.

The changing clinical profile of celiac disease: a 15-year experience (1998-2012) in an Italian referral center

BACKGROUND

Celiac disease is a multiform, challenging condition characterized by extremely variable features. Our goal was to define clinical, serological and histopathological findings in a large cohort of celiacs diagnosed in a single referral center.

METHODS

From January 1998 to December 2012, 770 patients (599 females, median age 36 years, range 18-78 years) were diagnosed as celiacs at St. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital (Bologna, Italy). The clinical phenotypes were classified as: 1) classical (malabsorption syndrome); 2) non-classical (extraintestinal and/or gastrointestinal symptoms other than diarrhea); 3) subclinical. Serology, duodenal histology, comorbidities, response to gluten-free diet and complications were evaluated.

RESULTS

Disease onset was symptomatic in 610 patients (79%), while 160 celiacs showed a subclinical phenotype. In the symptomatic group the non-classical prevailed over the classical phenotype (66% vs 34%). Diarrhea was found in 27%, while other gastrointestinal manifestations were bloating (20%), aphthous stomatitis (18%), alternating bowel habit (15%), constipation (13%) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (12%). Extraintestinal manifestations included osteopenia/osteoporosis (52%), anemia (34%), cryptogenic hypertransaminasemia (29%) and recurrent miscarriages (12%). Positivity for IgA tissue transglutaminase antibodies was detected in 97%. Villous atrophy was found in 87%, while 13% had minor lesions consistent with potential celiac disease. A large proportion of patients showed autoimmune disorders, i.e. autoimmune thyroiditis (26.3%), dermatitis herpetiformis (4%) and diabetes mellitus type 1 (3%). Complicated celiac disease was very rare.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates that the clinical profile of celiac disease changed over time with an increasing rate of non-classical and subclinical phenotypes.

Celiac disease and autoimmune-associated conditions

Celiac disease (CD) is frequently accompanied by a variety of extradigestive manifestations, thus making it a systemic disease rather than a disease limited to the gastrointestinal tract. This is primarily explained by the fact that CD belongs to the group of autoimmune diseases. The only one with a known etiology is related to a permanent intolerance to gluten. Remarkable breakthroughs have been achieved in the last decades, due to a greater interest in the diagnosis of atypical and asymptomatic patients, which are more frequent in adults. The known presence of several associated diseases provides guidance in the search of oligosymptomatic cases as well as studies performed in relatives of patients with CD. The causes for the onset and manifestation of associated diseases are diverse; some share a similar genetic base, like type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D); others share pathogenic mechanisms, and yet, others are of unknown nature. General practitioners and other specialists must remember that CD may debut with extraintestinal manifestations, and associated illnesses may appear both at the time of diagnosis and throughout the evolution of the disease. The implementation of a gluten-free diet (GFD) improves the overall clinical course and influences the evolution of the associated diseases. In some cases, such as iron deficiency anemia, the GFD contributes to its disappearance. In other disorders, like T1D, this allows a better control of the disease. In several other complications and/or associated diseases, an adequate adherence to a GFD may slow down their evolution, especially if implemented during an early stage.

Prevalence of serological markers for celiac disease (IgA and IgG class antigliadin antibodies and IgA class antiendomysium antibodies) in patients with autoimmune rheumatologic diseases in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

CONTEXT

Patients with autoimmune rheumatologic conditions and celiac disease tend to have a variety of autoantibodies, many of which have no clear pathogenic role. The literature contains frequent reports of celiac disease being more prevalent in patients with rheumatologic diseases, although this remains controversial.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the prevalence of positive serum tests for celiac disease, particularly IgA and IgG antigliadin (AGA) antibodies and IgA antiendomysium antibodies (EmA) in patients with autoimmune rheumatologic diseases. A second aim was to correlate positive serum tests with prednisone and immunosuppressant medication.

METHODS

A total of 190 adults and pediatric patients with a variety of autoimmune rheumatologic diseases (systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthrophathies) were evaluated and tested for IgA and IgG antigliadin-antibodies and IgA antiendomysium antibodies. Patients with positive serum tests underwent endoscopic duodenal biopsies for pathology studies.

RESULTS

There were four positive sera (2.1%) for AGA IgA, all of which tested negative for AGA IgG and EmA. Three sera (1.6%) tested positive for AGA IgG; all were negative for AGA IgA and EmA. The EmA test at a 1:2.5 serum dilution tested positive in 94 patients (49.5%); at a 1:5 serum dilution it was positive in 41 patients (21.6%). Eleven subjects tested positive for EmA at 1:40 dilution; and all of these tested negative for IgA tissue antitransglutaminase (tTG) antibodies. Nine of the 11 EmA-positive patients and all 7 patients with positive antigliadin antibodies tests underwent duodenal endoscopic biopsies, and no significant changes were demonstrated in their duodenal mucosa. A positive EmA was associated with elevated optical density AGA IgA readings; however, there was no relationship between positive EmA and AGA IgG optical density readings. Prednisone and immunosuppressant use were unrelated to AGA IgA optical density readings or AGA IgG readings. These drugs were associated with fewer positive EmA tests.

CONCLUSIONS

Positive AGAA, AGAG or EmA results are probably nonspecific for the presence of celiac disease among autoimmune rheumatologic disease patients. The intake of prednisone and immunosuprressant drugs seems to reduce the prevalence of IgA EmA, but it does not interfere with antigliadin antibodies tests.Further studies are required to estimate more accurately the prevalence of this disease in rheumatologic patients.

Gastrointestinal and hepatic manifestations of rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), characterized by inflammation of the synovium and surrounding structures, has a prevalence of 0.5-1%. Rheumatoid vasculitis (RV) is an inflammatory condition of the small- and medium-sized vessels that affects up to 5% of patients with RA with intestinal involvement in 10-38% of these cases. Clinically apparent RV of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, while rare, is often catastrophic, resulting in ischemic ulcers and bowel infarction. Vasculitis of the colon may present as pancolitis clinically similar to ulcerative colitis. Rectal biopsies that include submucosal vessels are positive for vasculitis in up to 40% of cases. Abnormal esophageal motility in RA may result in heartburn and dysphagia. Chronic atrophic gastritis may be associated with hypergastrinemia and hypo- or achlorhydria, promoting small bowel bacterial overgrowth. RA is the most common cause of secondary amyloidosis with GI symptoms in 22% of affected patients. Although amyloid is usually found in the liver, it is rarely evident clinically. Felty's syndrome occurs in less than 1% of patients with RA and is characterized by neutropenia and splenomegaly. The liver may be involved with portal fibrosis or nodular regenerative hyperplasia. Liver histology is abnormal in 92% of RA patients at autopsy, although the changes are usually mild without associated hepatomegaly. Drug-induced liver disease may occur with aspirin, sulfasalazine, and methotrexate. Significant liver damage is rare if the drug is discontinued or the patient is properly monitored. RA can affect both the GI tract and the liver; changes are usually mild except with RV.

Antibodies to human tissue transglutaminase and alterations of vitamin D metabolism in ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis

Both in ankylosing spondylitis (ASP) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), osteopenia is present in one-third of women and men, whereas osteoporosis mainly affects men, even in their 30 s. Subclinical gut inflammation has been described in patients with AS or PsA. Joint involvement also occurs with other gastrointestinal diseases such as celiac disease. We tested the hypothesis, whether elevated serum levels of human anti-tissue-transglutaminase-IgA (htTG) are associated with changes in disease activity, vitamin D metabolism and bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with ASP and PsA. In a cross-sectional study, we evaluated both biochemical markers of bone turnover, BMD and htTG in 76 patients with ASP and 120 patients with PsA. A reduction of BMD in lumbar spine was determined both in ASP (42.7%) and in PsA (57.3%). Furthermore, a significantly higher prevalence of htTG was detected only in ASP (14/76). ASP patients with negative htTG status have significant higher 25-vitamin D3 levels. ASP patients with positive htTG status are younger. A positive htTG status entails the risk of a bad vitamin D supply, which should be considered in young patients since this constellation favors a reduction in bone density. The coincidence of ASP along with detection of htTG and clinically asymptomatic celiac disease as an accessory source of inflammation with a negative influence on the bone metabolism is also conceivable. Clinicians need to be aware of patients younger than 45 years with ASP, which have important implications for the correct treatment and vitamin D supplementation.

Co-occurrence of celiac disease and other autoimmune diseases in celiacs and their first-degree relatives

The occurrence of other autoimmune diseases in celiac disease families has not been previously reported in a North American population. We investigated the familial aggregation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), juvenile rheumatoid arthritis/juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JRA/JIA), hypothyroidism, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), and alopecia areata (AA) among individuals in families with celiac disease (CD). Family history information, obtained from questionnaires from the University of California Irvine Celiac Disease study, was reviewed for reports of RA, JRA/JIA, hypothyroidism, IDDM, and AA in celiac disease cases and their first-degree relatives. Reports of disease were compared with prevalence data from the literature and analyzed by calculating the standardized ratio (SR) with 95% confidence limits. We analyzed: (1) subjects with confirmed celiac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis (205 probands and 203 affected first-degree relatives) and (2) first-degree relatives of celiac disease cases (n=1272). We found a significantly increased number of cases, relative to the expected number, of IDDM in both groups and hypothyroidism among subjects with celiac disease. JRA/JIA was increased among first-degree relatives of celiacs. These results indicate that the presence of IDDM within our celiac disease families may be due to shared genetic susceptibility predisposing to these diseases or autoimmune diseases in general.

Celiac disease and autoimmunity in the gut and elsewhere

This review focuses on the autoimmune connective tissue diseases, endocrine, and dermatologic conditions associated with celiac disease, as well as the related gut inflammatory disorders of refractory celiac disease, autoimmune enteropathy, collagenous enteritis, and collagenous colitis.

Patterns of clinical presentation of adult coeliac disease in a rural setting

BACKGROUND

In recent years there has been increasing recognition that the pattern of presentation of coeliac disease may be changing. The classic sprue syndrome with diarrhoea and weight loss may be less common than the more subtle presentations of coeliac disease such as an isolated iron deficiency anaemia. As a result, the diagnosis of this treatable condition is often delayed or missed. Recent serologic screening tests allow non-invasive screening to identify most patients with the disease and can be applied in patients with even subtle symptoms indicative of coeliac disease. Both benign and malignant complications of coeliac disease can be avoided by early diagnosis and a strict compliance with a gluten free diet.

AIM

The aim of this study is to evaluate the trends in clinical presentation of patients diagnosed with adult coeliac disease. In addition, we studied the biochemical and serological features and the prevalence of associated conditions in patients with adult coeliac disease.

METHODS

This is an observational, retrospective, cross-sectional review of the medical notes of 32 adult patients attending the specialist coeliac clinic in a district general hospital.

RESULTS

Anaemia was the most common mode of presentation accounting for 66% of patients. Less than half of the patients had any of the classical symptoms of coeliac disease and 25% had none of the classical symptoms at presentation. Anti-gliadin antibodies, anti-endomysial antibody and anti-tissue transglutaminase showed 75%, 68% and 90% sensitivity respectively. In combination, serology results were 100% sensitive as screening tests for adult coeliac disease. Fifty nine percent patients had either osteoporosis or osteopenia. There were no malignant complications observed during the follow up of our patients.

CONCLUSION

Most adults with coeliac disease have a sub clinical form of the disease and iron deficiency anaemia may be its sole presenting symptom. Only a minority of adult coeliac disease patients present with classical mal-absorption symptoms of diarrhoea and weight loss. Patients with atypical form of disease often present initially to hospital specialists other than a gastro-enterologist. An awareness of the broad spectrum of presentations of adult coeliac disease, among doctors both in primary care and by the various hospital specialists in secondary care, is necessary to avoid delays in diagnosis. It is important to include serological screening tests for coeliac disease systematically in the evaluation of adult patients with unexplained iron deficiency anaemia or unexplained gastro-intestinal symptoms and in those who are considered to be at increased risk for coeliac disease.

Unusual manifestations of celiac disease

Celiac disease is multifaced autoimmune disorder with several extraintestinal manifestations and connections to other autoimmune diseases and other conditions. The recognition of the complex clinical picture of the disease helps doctors to search and diagnose celiac disease even if the gastrointestinal symptoms are lacking. Individuals at risk for celiac disease should be thoroughly investigated and individuals with unusual manifestations of the disease should be screened actively.

Celiac sprue (the great modern-day imposter)

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To review the current epidemiological information on celiac disease and the various presentations and associated.

RECENT FINDINGS

Epidemiologic studies reveal celiac disease to be common, occurring in approx. 1% of the population. It is being diagnosed worldwide, even in developing countries. The classic mode of presentation has become less common, with diarrhea or a malabsorption syndrome as the mode of presentation in fewer than 50% of individuals. The other major modes of presentation are iron-deficiency anemia, osteoporosis, screening of family members, or incidentally at endoscopy done for dyspepsia or reflux. Neurological presentations may include peripheral neuropathy or ataxia. Arthritis is commonly found in patients with celiac disease when systematically sought. Patients often have a previous diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome. Autoimmune diseases occur more frequently (three to ten times more) in those with celiac disease than the general population. However, this increased incidence of autoimmune diseases is not prevented by early diagnosis of celiac disease.

SUMMARY

We will review the various associated diseases/presentations of celiac disease. The heterogeneity of the symptoms can make the diagnosis challenging and certainly the great modern-day imposter.

Systemic lupus erythematosus with celiac disease: a report of five cases

Systemic lupus erythematosus and celiac disease (CD) are rarely reported in combination. We report five cases seen over a 4-year period. The two conditions occurred concomitantly in one patient, whereas the CD antedated the lupus in one patient and postdated the lupus in the remaining three patients. Villous atrophy on duodenal biopsy specimens with a favorable response to a gluten-free diet was noted in all five patients. Only four patients had positive serological tests for CD and only three had abdominal symptoms.