Down syndrome and celiac disease

J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 1995 Nov;21(4):443-5. doi: 10.1097/00005176-199511000-00012.

Abstract

Down syndrome is associated with immune-related disorders such as hypothyroidism, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and celiac disease. In this study we determined antigliadin antibodies (AGA) in 54 patients with Down syndrome; 22 had AGA values above the cutoff limit. Nineteen patients underwent intestinal biopsy, and total or subtotal villous atrophy was found in nine. There was a total of 65 patients with Down syndrome in our area of southern Sweden; two were already known to have celiac disease. The minimum prevalence of celiac disease in Down syndrome in this area in southern Sweden was 11 of 65 or 16.9%.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Antibodies / blood
  • Biopsy
  • Celiac Disease / complications*
  • Celiac Disease / diagnosis
  • Celiac Disease / epidemiology
  • Down Syndrome / complications*
  • Female
  • Gliadin / immunology
  • Glutens / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
  • Intestines / pathology
  • Male
  • Sweden

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Glutens
  • Gliadin