Quantitative assessment of endoscopic images for degree of villous atrophy in celiac disease.

Background: The degree of villous atrophy in celiac disease is difficult to assess at endoscopy. We sought to develop a quantitative technique for the evaluation of villous atrophy in endoscopic images.

Method: In ten celiac patients as identified by standard endoscopy with biopsy, and ten control patients, standard and videocapsule endoscopic images of the duodenum were digitized.

Psychosocial factors are more important than disease activity in determining gastrointestinal symptoms and health status in adults at a celiac disease referral center.

Background: The relative effects of clinical and psychosocial variables on outcome in celiac disease (CD) has not previously been reported. In adult patients with (CD), we studied the relationships among demographics, psychosocial factors, and disease activity with health-related quality of life (HRQOL), health care utilization, and symptoms.

Methods: Among 101 adults newly referred to a tertiary care center with biopsy-proven CD we assessed: (a) demographic factors and diet status; (b) disease measures (Marsh score, tissue transglutaminase antibody (tTG) level, weight change and additional blood studies); and (c) Psychosocial status (psychological distress, life stress, abuse history, and coping).

Celiac disease: similar presentations in the elderly and young adults.

Background/aims: Studies have shown that celiac disease can affect individuals in all age groups. However, few studies have described the disease in the elderly. The goal of this study is to characterize celiac disease in the elderly by comparing to a population of young adults with celiac disease.

Serum cytokine elevations in celiac disease: association with disease presentation.

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder that is triggered by an immune response to gluten in genetically predisposed individuals. Although considered a primary gastrointestinal disease, CD is now known to have widespread systemic manifestations. We attempted to define the nature and role of systemic cytokine levels in the pathophysiology of CD.

Tissue transglutaminase antibodies in individuals with celiac disease bind to thyroid follicles and extracellular matrix and may contribute to thyroid dysfunction.

Background: Individuals with active celiac disease (CD+) have an increased incidence of thyroid dysfunction, which improves on a gluten-free diet (CD-). We investigated whether tissue transglutaminase-2 IgA antibodies (anti-TGase II) present in sera of patients with celiac disease react with thyroid tissue and possibly contribute to thyroid disease.

Methods: Serum from 40 active celiac patients taken before a gluten-free diet (CD+), 46 patients on a gluten-free diet (CD-), 40 normal controls (NC), and 25 with Crohn's disease (CROHN) was used.

Comparison of commercially available serologic kits for the detection of celiac disease.

Background: The sensitivity and specificity of current antihuman tissue transglutaminase (tTG) IgA assays used to detect celiac disease reportedly approach 100%. In addition, the sensitivity of new generation deamidated gliadin peptide (alpha-DGP) antibody assays has also been reported to be similar to the tTG IgA assays. In routine clinical practice, however, the sensitivities and specificities of these tests for diagnosing celiac disease seem to be lower.

Chronic hepatitis C virus and celiac disease, is there an association?

Celiac disease (CD) has been epidemiologically associated with chronic hepatitis C (HCV), and CD activation after the initiation of interferon (IFN-alpha) in patients with HCV is documented. However, clear association of CD and HCV is lacking. A prospectively maintained database of 878 CD patients showed a prevalence of 0.

Extraintestinal manifestations of celiac disease.

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that occurs in genetically predisposed individuals as the result of an immune response to gluten. It is present in approximately 1% of the population. Diarrhea has become a less common mode of presentation (<50% of cases) than it once was.