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Celiac disease in 87 children with typical and atypical symptoms in Black Sea region of Turkey

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Abstract

Background

Celiac disease presents with a spectrum of clinical disorders. The variety of clinical presentations largely depends on age and extraintestinal findings. This study aimed to determine typical and atypical cases according to presenting symptoms and to evaluate their biochemical and pathological parameters.

Methods

Eighty-seven patients with celiac disease in our unit between 2000 and 2007 were reviewed. Their diagnosis was made by serological and histological examination. The patients were divided into two groups according to their typical or atypical symptoms.

Results

The mean age of the patients at diagnosis was 8.2 years (range, 1–18 years), but patients presenting with typical symptoms were younger than those presenting with atypical symptoms. The patients in the two groups did not differ significantly in sex, weight and height Z scores except age. Diarrhea (96.3%), abdominal distention (65.4%) and failure to thrive (60%) were the most common clinical presentations in the typical group, and short stature (62.5%) and anemia (31.2%) were the most common in the atypical group. Total/subtotal villous atrophy was significantly higher in the typical group than in the atypical group.

Conclusions

Many children with celiac disease show an atypical form. The understanding of presentations of celiac disease may prevent delayed diagnosis. Celiac disease should be specially investigated in patients with recurrent iron deficiency anemia, short stature and autoimmune disorders.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey

    Gönül Dinler & Ayhan Gazi Kalaycı

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey

    Erdal Atalay

  3. Pediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition Department, Ondokuz Mayıs University Faculty of Medicine, Samsun, 55139, Turkey

    Gönül Dinler

Authors
  1. Gönül Dinler
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  2. Erdal Atalay
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  3. Ayhan Gazi Kalaycı
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Correspondence to Gönül Dinler.

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Dinler, G., Atalay, E. & Kalaycı, A.G. Celiac disease in 87 children with typical and atypical symptoms in Black Sea region of Turkey. World J Pediatr 5, 282–286 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12519-009-0053-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12519-009-0053-y

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