The hematologic manifestations of pediatric celiac disease at the time of diagnosis and efficiency of gluten-free diet

Background/aim: To determine the hematologic manifestations at the time of diagnosis of celiac disease in children and the effects of a gluten-free diet on hematologic signs upon follow-up. Materials and methods: The records of patients with celiac disease who received a follow up examination at the Pediatric Gastroenterology Clinic between June 2006 and June 2013 were retrospectively examined. Results: Ninety-one patients were included in the study. The mean age at diagnosis was 8.1 ± 4.21 years and 59 patients (64.8%) were female. Thirty-two patients (35.2%) had hematologic signs at the time of diagnosis. Anemia (24.2%) was the most common hematologic sign, followed by thrombocytosis (16.5%) and leukopenia (4.4%). The tTG IgA titers were screened in 80 of the 91 patients during diagnosis. Follow-up examinations found that remission for anemia (P = 0.017), thrombocytosis (P = 0.039), and decreases in tTG IgA titers (P = 0.034) were more prominent in patients who had followed a strict gluten-free diet. Conclusion: Approximately one-third of the celiac disease patients had hematologic manifestations at the time of diagnosis. Remission in hematologic signs and decrease in tTG IgA titers were more prominent in patients who had adhered to a gluten-free diet.