Evaluation of adult celiac disease from a tertiary reference center: a retrospective analysis

Celiac Disease Presenting in a Community-Based Gastroenterology Practice: Obesity and Bone Disease Are Common

BACKGROUND

The description of the clinical presentation of celiac disease (CeD) has usually come from studies at referral centers. Data about CeD presentation in the community are sparse.

AIMS

We aim to describe the clinical presentation of patients with biopsy-proven CeD at a community-based adult gastroenterology practice and compare it to a referral center.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study of two cohorts of patients diagnosed with CeD between 2000-2007 (n = 117) and 2013-2016 (n = 91) in a community practice, and a third cohort (n = 188) diagnosed between 2000 and 2007 in a tertiary referral center. The clinical presentation, body mass index, tissue-transglutaminase levels, DEXA scan, vitamin D levels, and vaccine recommendations were assessed.

RESULTS

Celiac disease presentation changed over time in the two community cohorts. Recently, fewer patients presented with diarrhea and anemia, but constipation and neurologic symptoms were more common. The most recent cohort had a higher proportion of patients who were overweight or obese than the first cohort. However, the body mass index in both community cohorts was higher than in the tertiary referral center. The frequency of osteopenia and osteoporosis was high in both community cohorts. The tertiary referral center patients were younger, presented with a higher proportion of diarrhea and a lower body mass index.

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical presentation of CeD differs between the community setting and a tertiary referral center. Patients with CeD presenting to the community setting tended to be older, overweight, and to have a high proportion of mineral bone disease.

Liver abnormalities in celiac disease and response to gluten free diet: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Liver involvement in celiac disease (CeD) is known but its various etiologies and the effect of gluten free diet (GFD) on it is understudied.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Medline and Embase databases from date of inception to March 7, 2022, to look for studies reporting on CeD and liver abnormalities. Pooled proportion of CeD patients with deranged transaminases, etiologies of various other liver diseases with CeD and the response to GFD were estimated. Subgroup analyses based on the age group, geographic distribution and duration of GFD were also carried out.

RESULTS

Total 42 studies (8976 patients) reported hyper-transaminasemia in patients with celiac disease. The pooled proportion of patients with elevated transaminases was 21.42% (95% CI: 17.02-26.59, I²  = 94%) overall, with similar prevalence among adults (21.20%) and children (21.51%). The commonest etiology was celiac hepatitis at 49.23% (95% CI: 30.09-68.59, I²  = 87%). Compliance with GFD was noted in 90.27%. The proportion of CeD patients with liver abnormalities who showed response to GFD was 86.39% (95% CI: 80.04-90.95, I²  = 74%) overall.

CONCLUSION

Liver involvement was noted in 21.42% of CeD patients. Celiac hepatitis was reported in nearly half of them. Good compliance and response were noted with GFD.

Anemia Etiology and the Response to a Gluten-Free Diet in Untreated Patients With Celiac Disease: A 2-Year Follow-Up

INTRODUCTION

Anemia and micronutrient deficiencies are common in newly diagnosed patients with celiac disease (CeD). We aim to determine the prevalence and etiology of anemia in a cohort of patients with CeD in the United States and examine the effect of a gluten-free diet (GFD) on the laboratory parameters related to anemia in CeD.

METHODS

We analyzed a prospectively collected cohort of adults with biopsy-proven CeD followed in a specialized CeD center between January 2000 and June 2016. We used the level of hemoglobin (Hb) and micronutrients suggested by the World Health Organization to establish the diagnosis of anemia or deficiencies. Demographic data and laboratory parameters related to anemia and micronutrients were recorded at the time of diagnosis and on a GFD. A celiac expert nutritionist or gastroenterologist evaluated all patients.

RESULTS

In 572 patients with laboratory evaluation before starting a GFD, approximately 25% presented with anemia at the time of diagnosis of CeD. Iron deficiency was present in 50.8% of the cohort and in 78.8% of the patients with anemia. Within the anemic population, 84.4% of female patients as compared with 58.3% of male patients ( P = 0.02) showed iron deficiency. Folate deficiency (23.2%), vitamin B12 deficiency (11%), and anemia of chronic diseases (7.8%) were also part of both sexes' anemia etiology. Of the initially anemic patients, 81% and 89% normalized their Hb levels within 1 year and 2 years of beginning a GFD, respectively. All patients received appropriate supplementation when needed.

DISCUSSION

Approximately 25% of individuals have anemia at CeD diagnosis. The anemia etiology included iron deficiency, vitamin deficiencies, and anemia of chronic diseases. Most of the patients will normalize their Hb levels and the anemia laboratory parameters 1 year after starting a strict GFD.

Celiac Disease in the Elderly

Purpose of review

This review highlights literature from the past several years and explores the impact on current understanding of celiac disease diagnosis, complications, and management in older adults.

Recent findings

Celiac disease in the elderly is becoming increasingly prevalent but remains underdiagnosed, with a high potential burden of downstream morbidity and modestly increased risk of mortality. Clinical presentations are often related to extraintestinal symptoms and can be subtle. Duodenal biopsy remains the gold-standard for diagnosis in older adults, along with supporting serologies. Refractory celiac disease is a particular concern in the aging population, and treatment for this rare condition remains unsatisfactory. Older adults exhibit lower rates of mucosal healing, though the reasons for this are poorly understood.

Summary

Current understanding of celiac disease in the elderly continues to advance, though significant knowledge gaps persist. Large, prospective studies are needed to further characterize celiac disease pathogenesis, complications, and management in older adults.

Bi-directional Relationship Between Celiac Disease and Liver Chemistries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

AIMS

Previous studies have reported conflicting results regarding prevalence of elevated LC (2-70%) in celiac disease (CD). This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the prevalence of elevated LC at time of CD diagnosis and associated response to GFD. We also report the prevalence of CD in patients with unexplained elevation of LC.

METHODS

Studies assessing LC (aspartate aminotransferase [AST] and alanine aminotransferase [ALT]) in CD patients were eligible. Studies with < 50 cases or in pediatric populations were excluded.

RESULTS

In total, 20 studies assessing prevalence of elevated LC in 4,265 participants with newly diagnosed CD (mean age = 35.6 ± 6.5 years, 69.8% female) were included. Pooled prevalence of elevated LC was 18.7% (95% CI 13.8-24.8; I2 = 95%). Normalization of elevated LC was seen in 83.1% (95% CI 73.4-89.7; I2 = 79%, 11 studies) of patients after GFD. On meta-regression, age at CD diagnosis, gender, and Marsh grading were not associated with elevated LC. Among 979 participants (7 studies) with unexplained elevation of LC, pooled seroprevalence and biopsy-proven CD was 6.4% (95% CI 2.9-10.3, I2 = 71%) and 4.5% (95% CI 2.6-7.7, I2 = 67%), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Elevated LC are seen in approximately one-fifth of patients at CD diagnosis with majority normalizing after GFD. Age, gender, and degree of intestinal damage are not predictive of elevated LC. In the appropriate clinical scenario, liver tests should be serially monitored in CD reserving workup for additional causes after a trial of GFD. Patients with unexplained elevation of liver tests should be screened for celiac disease.

Iron Deficiency Anemia in Celiac Disease

The iron absorption process developsmainly in the proximal duodenum. This portion of the intestine is typically destroyed in celiac disease (CD), resulting in a reduction in absorption of iron and subsequent iron deficiency anemia (IDA). In fact, the most frequent extra-intestinal manifestation (EIM) of CD is IDA, with a prevalence between 12 and 82% (in relation with the various reports) in patients with new CD diagnosis. The primary treatment of CD is the gluten-free diet (GFD), which is associated with adequate management of IDA, if present. Iron replacement treatment historically has been based on oral products containing ferrous sulphate (FS). However, the absorption of FS is limited in patients with active CD and unpredictable in patients on a GFD. Furthermore, a poor tolerability of this kind of ferrous is particularly frequent in patients with CD or with other inflammatory bowel diseases. Normalization from anemic state typically occurs after at least 6 months of GFD, but the process can take up to 2 years for iron stores to replenish.

Persistent Iron Deficiency Anemia in Patients with Celiac Disease Despite a Gluten-Free Diet

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by intolerance to dietary gluten in genetically predisposed subjects. Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common sign in CD, being the only abnormality in approximately 40% of celiac patients. A multifactorial etiology leads to IDA in CD. The two main causes are the villous atrophy of the mucosa at the site of iron absorption (the duodenum) and the resulting inflammation, which triggers the mechanism that leads to the anemia of chronic disease. Until now, it has been unclear why some patients with CD continue to have IDA despite a careful gluten-free diet (GFD) and the normalization of villous atrophy. Furthermore, some celiac patients are refractory to oral iron supplementation despite the healing of the mucosa, and they thus require periodic intravenous iron administration. The Marsh classification evaluates the degree of inflammation and villous atrophy, but it does not assess the possible persistence of ultrastructural and molecular alterations in enterocytes. The latter was found in CD in remission after adopting a GFD and could be responsible for the persistently reduced absorption of iron and IDA. Even in non-celiac gluten sensitivity, anemia is present in 18.5-22% of patients and appears to be related to ultrastructural and molecular alterations in intestinal microvilli. It is possible that a genetic component may also play a role in IDA. In this review, we evaluate and discuss the main mechanisms of IDA in CD and the possible causes of its persistence after adopting a GFD, as well as their therapeutic implications.