Long-term follow up study of children with celiac disease
Micskey, E.; Kövi, R.; Varga, K.; Polgár, M.; Schaff, Z.
Orvosi Hetilap 134(20): 1073-1076
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0030-6002 PMID: 8497386 Document Number: 411396
27 long term monitored coeliac children were assessed. The average length of follow-up was 6.4 years, the average age of the children was 11.5 years (ranging 6.3 to 20.1 years). Of the 11 boys and 16 girls 4 adolescents consume a normal diet, while another 2 are on semistrict diet, all 6 of them without any enteral symptoms. Out of the 15 children aged younger than 13 years 9 are on a strict diet. Semistrict diet has an impact on gliadin antibody levels respectively. Serum ferritin levels of those on a normal diet are significantly lower than those of the control group. Out of the 25 lactose breath tests 7 showed abnormal results, irrelevant both to the strictness of the diet and to gliadin antibody levels. In the view of weight and length percentiles there is no difference at present between those eating normal food and diet. Nevertheless, with regards to the risk of malignancy in coeliac disease the necessity of a strict diet must be stressed. In long term follow-up the levels of gliadin antibodies and of serum ferritin are of pathognostic importance.