| Abstract [eng] |
Object. Coeliac disease is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal disorder. It‘s prevalence in Europe and North America is 1 of 150-300 adults and children. In Lithuania there are no data on prevalence of coeliac disease but it‘s seems that there is hypodiagnosis [29]. IgA-deficient individuals have a tenfold risk for coeliac disease compared with the general population. Patients with IgA deficiency have a tendency to develop recurrent sinopulmonary and gastrointestinal infections, allergies, autoimmune diseases and malignancies [148-154]. There are no data on the prevalence of IgA deficiency in Lithuania [29]. The aim. To determine the prevalence of coeliac disease and IgA deficiency among 11-13 years children in Vilnius. Material and methods. From January 2009 to March 2010 we investigated 1000 children (11-13 years of age) for coeliac disease and immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency from six Vilnius secondary schools. We examined capillary blood for tissue transglutaminase IgA class antibodies (tTG IgA) and total IgA with Biocard TM test (Ani Biotech OY, Finland) for children whose parents agreed to do this test. The results were evaluated after 5 min. Children with positive test results (tTG IgA positive or total IgA deficiency) underwent small bowel endoscopy with biopsies at Vilnius University Children Hospital to confirm or deny the diagnosis of coeliac disease. We get permission for this study from Lithuanian Bioethics Committee. Results. Two of 1000 children were positive for IgA tTG and small bowel biopsy revealed coeliac disease in both (mucosal abnormalities Marsh III). Four of 1000 children were IgA deficient. Conclusions. 1. The prevalence of celiac disease among 11-13 years children in Vilnius 1:500 (0,2%, 95% CI 0,055-0,726). 2. The prevalence of coeliac disease found in this study is much higher than in the previous preliminary studies. 3. The prevalence of IgA deficiency among 11-13 years children in Vilnius 1:250 (0,4%, 95% CI 0,156-1,024). |
