| ORIGINAL ARTICLE |
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| Year : 2008 | Volume
: 14
| Issue : 3 | Page : 135-138 |
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Prevalence of celiac disease in Shiraz, southern Iran
Mehdi Saberi-Firouzi1, Gholamhossein R Omrani2, Marzieh Nejabat1, Davood Mehrabani1, Farnaz Khademolhosseini1
1 Gastroenterohepatology Research Center, Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
2 Endocrine and Metabolism Research Center, Nemazee Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Correspondence Address:
Mehdi Saberi-Firouzi
Gastroenterohepatology Research Center, Nemazee Hospitial, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz
Iran
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/1319-3767.41732
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Background/Aim: This study was performed to evaluate the prevalence of celiac disease (CD) in Shiraz, southern Iran. Materials and Methods: Serum samples were collected from 1440 persons (age range = 20-83 years, mean age = 45.4 years) in 2004 and screened for endomysial and tissue transglutaminase antibodies. A questionnaire was completed for all subjects in relation to gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and cases with positive serology were requested to undergo small-bowel biopsy. Results : Seven cases (0.5%) were positive for IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase (anti-tTG), and only two (0.14%) were positive for IgA anti-endomysial antibody (anti-EMA), both of whom had highly positive anti-tTg levels (40.4 and 48.0 IU/l). The major clinical symptoms of CD, such as recurrent abdominal pain and change in bowel habits were present in all patients with positive anti-tTG assays. Only five subjects with positive serology agreed to undergo upper GI endoscopy and duodenal biopsy. Three of these cases were reported with Marsh I histologic findings, while in the two cases with positive serologic anti-EMA, more advanced forms of CD were present. Conclusion: The prevalence of CD in apparently healthy adults was lower than the reported series from northern parts of the country; therefore, we suggest a more long-term follow-up study in high-risk groups, especially in the apparently healthy subjects in our region. |
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