Author/Authors :
Honar، N نويسنده Assistant Professor of pediatric gastroenterologist, Department of gastroenterology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. , , Kamali، S نويسنده Resident of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran , , Karimi، M نويسنده Professor of pediatric hematology oncology, Hematology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran ,
Abstract :
Background
We aimed to investigate the frequency of celiac
disease in children with B-thalassemia major (B-TM)
in Shiraz, southern Iran.
Materials and Methods
In this study, the prevalence of celiac disease in
children with B-TM was evaluated. Children with BTM
were screened for celiac disease by ant-tissue
transglutaminase (anti-tTG) IgA antibody, IgA level
and anti-tTG IgG. A total of 1500 school healthy
children in Shiraz with age/sex matched were
selected as control group.
Results
A total of 215 B-TM patients with mean age of 12.7
± 4.4 years, were included into the study (52.1% was
male). None of the patients were positive for anti-tTG
IgA. Eight cases were IgA deficient in whom antitTG
IgG was investigated but none of them were
positive for anti-tTG IgG. The finding in control
group has a seroprevalence of 2% and biopsy proven
disease of 0.6%.
Conclusion
Many patients with thalassemia major have multiple
non specific symptom that are not justifiable with
underlying disease and might be due to atypical
celiac disease. We didnʹt find any case of celiac
disease among more than 200 children with B-
thalassemia major in Shiraz, southern Iran. So it
seems reasonable to screen only those who have
features, even not classical, of celiac disease
