The assessment of autoimmunological status and prevalence of different forms of celiac disease among children with type 1 diabetes mellitus and celiac disease

This study aims to assess the autoimmunological status and forms of celiac disease ( CD) among children with type 1 diabetes mellitus ( T1DM). The study group comprises 27 patients at the mean age of 12.30 years (+/- SD 3.12). The measurement of the level of diabetes-specific antibodies and organ-specific antibodies was gained at the T1DM-onset and repeated annually. The following risk factors influencing time of CD diagnosis were analyzed: age, sex, T1DM duration, autoantibodies, and HLA-haplotype. The prevalence of antibodies was GADA-74%, IAA-63%, IA2A-67%, ATA-11%, and ATG-4%. The intestinal biopsy revealed in 19% no changes and in 77% stage 3 ( Marsh scale). In most cases, no clinical manifestation of CD was observed. The diagnosis of Hashimoto's disease was made twice. The negative correlation between the age at T1DM-onset and the interval between onset of T1DM and CD (r = -0.35, p <.05) was noted. The high-comorbidity ratio of CD and thyroiditis with T1DM demands regular screening tests especially in the first years after T1DM-onset. Copyright (C) 2008 Grazyna Deja et al.