The risk of celiac disease in 107 families with at least two affected siblings.

Objectives: Screening for celiac disease (CD) in the apparently healthy members of 107 nuclear families with two affected siblings (sib pair) and estimating the risk of CD in siblings and parents.

Methods: One hundred seven families from Sweden and southern Norway with at least two affected children were investigated. Frozen sera from 187 of the 192 healthy parents and from 94 of 95 siblings without diagnosed CD were examined for total immunoglobulin A (IgA) and anti-endomysial antibodies (EMA).

Short-term gluten challenge in children with coeliac disease does not impair spontaneous growth hormone secretion.

Background: Growth retardation in children with coeliac disease has been attributed to impaired growth hormone (GH) secretion observed in stimulation tests.

Objective: This study aimed at investigating the possible change in spontaneous GH secretion during a standardised gluten challenge.

Patients: Twelve children with previous enteropathy suggesting coeliac disease and a normal pre-challenge biopsy on a gluten-free diet were included; eight of them completed all parts of the study, including repeated 24-h GH sampling.