Abstract
BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest that coeliac disease (CD) is one of the commonest, life-long disorders in Italy. The aims of this multicentre work were: (a) to establish the prevalence of CD on a nationwide basis; and (b) to characterize the CD clinical spectrum in Italy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifteen centres screened 17,201 students aged 6-15 years (68.6% of the eligible population) by the combined determination of serum IgG- and IgA-antigliadin antibody (AGA) test; 1289 (7.5%) were IgG and/or IgA-AGA positive and were recalled for the second-level investigation; 111 of them met the criteria for the intestinal biopsy: IgA-AGA positivity and/or AEA positivity or IgG-AGA positivity plus serum IgA deficiency. RESULTS: Intestinal biopsy was performed on 98 of the 111 subjects. CD was diagnosed in 82 subjects (75 biopsy proven, 7 not biopsied but with associated AGA and AEA positivity). Most of the screening-detected coeliac patients showed low-grade intensity illness often associated with decreased psychophysical well-being. There were two AEA negative cases with associated CD and IgA deficiency. The prevalence of undiagnosed CD was 4.77 x 1000 (95% CI 3.79-5.91), 1 in 210 subjects. The overall prevalence of CD, including known CD cases, was 5.44 x 1000 (95% CI 4.57-6.44), 1 in 184 subjects. The ratio of known to undiagnosed CD cases was 1 in 7. CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm that, in Italy, CD is one of the most common chronic disorders showing a wide and heterogeneous clinical spectrum. Most CD cases remain undiagnosed unless actively searched.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 29-35 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics, Supplement |
| Volume | 412 |
| Publication status | Published - May 1996 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
Cite this
The coeliac iceberg in Italy. A multicentre antigliadin antibodies screening for coeliac disease in school-age subjects. / Catassi, C.; Fabiani, E.; Rätsch, I. M.; Coppa, G. V.; Giorgi, P. L.; Pierdomenico, R.; Alessandrini, S.; Iwanejko, G.; Domenici, R.; Mei, E.; Miano, A.; Marani, M.; Bottaro, G.; Spina, M.; Dotti, M.; Montanelli, A.; Barbato, M.; Viola, F.; Lazzari, R.; Vallini, M.; Guariso, G.; Plebani, M.; Cataldo, F.; Traverso, G.; Ventura, A.
In: Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics, Supplement, Vol. 412, 05.1996, p. 29-35.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The coeliac iceberg in Italy. A multicentre antigliadin antibodies screening for coeliac disease in school-age subjects.
AU - Catassi, C.
AU - Fabiani, E.
AU - Rätsch, I. M.
AU - Coppa, G. V.
AU - Giorgi, P. L.
AU - Pierdomenico, R.
AU - Alessandrini, S.
AU - Iwanejko, G.
AU - Domenici, R.
AU - Mei, E.
AU - Miano, A.
AU - Marani, M.
AU - Bottaro, G.
AU - Spina, M.
AU - Dotti, M.
AU - Montanelli, A.
AU - Barbato, M.
AU - Viola, F.
AU - Lazzari, R.
AU - Vallini, M.
AU - Guariso, G.
AU - Plebani, M.
AU - Cataldo, F.
AU - Traverso, G.
AU - Ventura, A.
PY - 1996/5
Y1 - 1996/5
N2 - BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest that coeliac disease (CD) is one of the commonest, life-long disorders in Italy. The aims of this multicentre work were: (a) to establish the prevalence of CD on a nationwide basis; and (b) to characterize the CD clinical spectrum in Italy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifteen centres screened 17,201 students aged 6-15 years (68.6% of the eligible population) by the combined determination of serum IgG- and IgA-antigliadin antibody (AGA) test; 1289 (7.5%) were IgG and/or IgA-AGA positive and were recalled for the second-level investigation; 111 of them met the criteria for the intestinal biopsy: IgA-AGA positivity and/or AEA positivity or IgG-AGA positivity plus serum IgA deficiency. RESULTS: Intestinal biopsy was performed on 98 of the 111 subjects. CD was diagnosed in 82 subjects (75 biopsy proven, 7 not biopsied but with associated AGA and AEA positivity). Most of the screening-detected coeliac patients showed low-grade intensity illness often associated with decreased psychophysical well-being. There were two AEA negative cases with associated CD and IgA deficiency. The prevalence of undiagnosed CD was 4.77 x 1000 (95% CI 3.79-5.91), 1 in 210 subjects. The overall prevalence of CD, including known CD cases, was 5.44 x 1000 (95% CI 4.57-6.44), 1 in 184 subjects. The ratio of known to undiagnosed CD cases was 1 in 7. CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm that, in Italy, CD is one of the most common chronic disorders showing a wide and heterogeneous clinical spectrum. Most CD cases remain undiagnosed unless actively searched.
AB - BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggest that coeliac disease (CD) is one of the commonest, life-long disorders in Italy. The aims of this multicentre work were: (a) to establish the prevalence of CD on a nationwide basis; and (b) to characterize the CD clinical spectrum in Italy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifteen centres screened 17,201 students aged 6-15 years (68.6% of the eligible population) by the combined determination of serum IgG- and IgA-antigliadin antibody (AGA) test; 1289 (7.5%) were IgG and/or IgA-AGA positive and were recalled for the second-level investigation; 111 of them met the criteria for the intestinal biopsy: IgA-AGA positivity and/or AEA positivity or IgG-AGA positivity plus serum IgA deficiency. RESULTS: Intestinal biopsy was performed on 98 of the 111 subjects. CD was diagnosed in 82 subjects (75 biopsy proven, 7 not biopsied but with associated AGA and AEA positivity). Most of the screening-detected coeliac patients showed low-grade intensity illness often associated with decreased psychophysical well-being. There were two AEA negative cases with associated CD and IgA deficiency. The prevalence of undiagnosed CD was 4.77 x 1000 (95% CI 3.79-5.91), 1 in 210 subjects. The overall prevalence of CD, including known CD cases, was 5.44 x 1000 (95% CI 4.57-6.44), 1 in 184 subjects. The ratio of known to undiagnosed CD cases was 1 in 7. CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm that, in Italy, CD is one of the most common chronic disorders showing a wide and heterogeneous clinical spectrum. Most CD cases remain undiagnosed unless actively searched.
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M3 - Article
VL - 412
SP - 29
EP - 35
JO - Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics, Supplement
JF - Acta Paediatrica, International Journal of Paediatrics, Supplement
SN - 0803-5326
ER -