Gluten-related immunogenic peptides in stool as means to monitor compliance with gluten-free diet in children with newly dia gnosed coeliac disease

Objectives and study: To compare the values of gluten-related immunogenic peptides (GIP) in stool and anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA antibodies (anti-tTG IgA) in blood in children newly diagnosed with coeliac disease (CD). Methods: All children (2–15 y) newly diagnosed with CD between May 2018 and May 2020 at our clinic who complied with the inclusion criteria were invited to join the prospective study. During workup for CD, a stool sample to measure GIP was taken together with a blood sample to measure anti-tTG IgA. All newly diagnosed children were invited 4 months later for a check-up. Children and their caregivers were asked about known non-compliance with the gluten-free diet (GFD), a blood sample was taken to measure the anti-tTG IgA, and a stool sample was collected to measure GIP. Blood was evaluated for anti-tTG IgA by ELISA, and the stool was tested by quantitative Sandwich ELISA designed to detect and quantify GIP using the G12 antibody. Values of GIP and anti-tTG IgA were compared in terms of their relation to the upper limit of normal (ULN) of the particular method. Results: 29 children (18 girls) were enrolled in the study. The values of GIP in stool at the time of diagnosis were above the ULN (0.15 µg/g) in all children. Average 4.21, median 3.29, standard deviation (SD) 3.7. After the four months, all but three (89.7%) had values of GIP in the reference range. Average 0.29, median 0.12, SD 0.73. Similarly, anti-tTG IgA values were above the ULN (9.9 U/mL) at the time of diagnosis in all children. Average 164, median 195, SD 49. Although the anti-tTG IgA levels were lower at check-up in all but one child, only 10 (34.5%) showed values within the normal range, with an average of 27.9, median 12.0, and SD 38.9. All children declared strict adherence to GFD. Discussion: Using the GIP concentration in stool, adherence to GFD in our cohort of children is very good, better than that described in literature. Conclusion: Measuring GIP in stool could prove a more sensitive indicator of adherence to GFD in the early months after the diagnosis of CD when anti-tTG IgA are still elevated above the ULN due to their well-described gradual decrease after GFD initiation.

A Rare Presentation of Coeliac Disease; Intractable Itching with Recurrent Heart Attack and Dermatitis Herpetiformis

Coeliac disease (CD) is a systemic disease of the unwarranted immune reaction to gluten and is associated with a 10% increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Here we present a patient with recurrent myocardial ischemia and intractable itching who was eventually diagnosed with CD. A 53-year-old man presented to the allergy department due to intractable itching that was resistant to antihistamine therapy. In addition, despite successful percutaneous intervention with stent implantation to the right coronary artery, there was an ST segment elevation with myocardial infarction (MI) in the lower wall that had occurred three times. After dermatitis herpetiformis was reported as a result of the biopsy performed from the lesions, duodenal biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of CD. Diagnosis of CD with atypical presentation can be difficult. Cardiovascular risk is increased in patients with celiac disease compared to the normal population. Itching is an important symptom that needs to be evaluated in detail, even without the typical gastrointestinal manifestations of CD. Keywords: Allergy, coeliac disease, dermatitis herpetiformis, myocardial infarction, omalizumab, recurrent stenosis

Five-year follow-up of new cases after a coeliac disease mass screening

ObjectiveWe previously performed a population-based mass screening of coeliac disease in children aged 12 years in two birth cohorts resulting in 296 seropositive children, of whom 242 were diagnosed with coeliac disease after duodenal biopsies. In this follow-up study, we wanted to identify new cases in the screening population that tested negative—either converting from potential coeliac disease (seropositive but normal duodenal mucosa) or converting from seronegative at screening to diagnosed coeliac disease.MethodsAll seropositive children were invited to a follow-up appointment 5 years after the screening with renewed serological testing and recommended endoscopic investigation if seropositive. Seronegative children in the screening study (n=12 353) were linked to the National Swedish Childhood Coeliac Disease Register to find cases diagnosed in healthcare during the same period.ResultsIn total, 230 (77%) came to the follow-up appointment, including 34 of 39 with potential coeliac disease. Of these, 11 (32%) had converted to coeliac disease. One new case was found in the National Swedish Childhood Coeliac Disease Register who received the diagnosis through routine screening in children with type 1 diabetes.ConclusionsThere is a high risk of conversion to coeliac disease among those with potential disease. However, a negative screening test was associated with a very low risk for a clinical diagnosis within a follow-up period of 5 years.