Serum prevalence of celiac disease in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Abstracts

OBJETIVO: A associação de doença celíaca e diabetes melito já é conhecida há várias décadas. Pode ser encontrada em uma grande proporção de pacientes diabéticos, que geralmente são assintomáticos. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a soroprevalência da doença celíaca em crianças e adolescentes com diabetes melito tipo 1. MÉTODOS: Através de um estudo transversal, realizou-se triagem sorológica com anticorpo IgA antitransglutaminase humana em 354 crianças e adolescentes diabéticos, atendidos em ambulatórios de endocrinologia pediátrica de Recife, Pernambuco, no período de janeiro a junho de 2004. RESULTADOS: O antitransglutaminase humana foi positivo em 37/354 pacientes, resultando em soroprevalência de 10,5% (IC95% 7,6-14,2%). Dentre os pacientes soropositivos, houve predomínio do sexo masculino (56,8%) em relação ao feminino (43,2%), porém sem significância estatística. O anticorpo antiendomísio foi realizado nos pacientes com antitransglutaminase humana positivo, sendo negativo em 14/37 (37,8%) e positivo em 22/37 (59,5%). CONCLUSÕES: A soroprevalência da doença celíaca em crianças e adolescentes diabéticos encontrada em Pernambuco é elevada, sendo comparável à observada em estudos da América do Norte e Europa e menor do que na África, sugerindo que a triagem sorológica para doença celíaca seja realizada em todas as crianças e adolescentes com diabetes melito tipo 1.

Diabetes melito tipo 1; doença celíaca; prevalência; crianças e adolescentes

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Serum prevalence of celiac disease in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Jacqueline Araújo^I; Gisélia Alves Pontes da Silva^II; Francisco Montenegro de Melo^III

^IEndocrinologista pediatra, Instituto Materno-Infantil de Pernambuco (IMIP) e Hospital das Clínicas, Recife, PE, Brasil. Mestre, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), Recife, PE, Brasil

^IIProfessora adjunta,UFPE, Recife, PE, Brasil. Doutora, Universidade Federal de São Paulo - Escola Paulista de Medicina (UNIFESP-EPM), São Paulo, SP, Brasil

^IIIProfessor adjunto, Universidade de Pernambuco (UPE), Recife, PE, Brasil. Mestre, UFPE, Recife, PE, Brasil

^{Correspondence}

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The association between celiac disease and diabetes mellitus has been known for many decades. This combination can be observed in a large proportion of diabetic patients, who are generally asymptomatic. The objective of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of celiac disease in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study employing antibody IgA anti-transglutaminase for the serological screening of 354 diabetic children and adolescents treated at pediatric endocrinology clinics in Recife, state of Pernambuco, during the period from January to June 2004.

RESULTS: The human anti-transglutaminase test was positive in 37/354 patients, resulting in a seroprevalence of 10.5% (95%CI 7.6-14.2%). Male patients predominated (56.8%) over female patients (43.2%) among those that were seropositive, but without statistical significance. Anti-endomysial antibody testing was performed on patients with positive human anti-transglutaminase results, being negative in 14/37 (37.8%) and positive in 22/37 (59.5%).

CONCLUSIONS: The seroprevalence of celiac disease found in diabetic children and adolescents in Pernambuco is elevated, being comparable with levels observed in studies in North America and Europe and lower than in Africa, suggesting that serological screening for celiac disease should be performed for all children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Key words: Type 1 diabetes mellitus, celiac disease, prevalence, children and adolescents.

Introduction

The association between celiac disease (CD) and type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) has been studied for almost 50 years. Many studies all over the world have demonstrated increased prevalence of CD in children, adolescents and adults with DM1.¹ Both are autoimmune conditions resulting from a complex interaction between genetic, immunological and environmental factors. It is not yet clear whether the simultaneous occurrence of the two diseases is linked to a common genetic base, or whether one disease in fact predisposes patients to the other; currently it is the first hypothesis that is more widely accepted, with the association of the two being explained, at least in part, by their sharing a common genetic mechanism in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system.²

In the past, when diagnosis was still based solely on the classic clinical manifestations, it was believed that CD was rare among diabetic patients. As ever more sensitive serological markers began to be used the disease was shown to be relatively.^3-5 Patients are generally asymptomatic and diagnosis is made on the basis of screening tests alone. The majority of diabetic patients exhibit the subclinical or silent form of CD,⁶ and just 10% or so are identified through classic symptomology.²

Undiagnosed CD that goes untreated is a cause for concern, since over the long term it is related with increased risks of mortality and morbidity.⁷ While there is no doubt about the increased prevalence of CD in patients with DM1, there is still debate on whether a routine screening program should be instituted to detect subclinical or silent cases and on which serological test should be chosen if instituted.^8,9

Several studies have been carried out to compare the sensitivity and specificity of serological tests for CD. Currently, it is known that the anti-endomysial antibody (AAE) and the human anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody (anti-tTG) are superior to other tests, but it is not known if there is any advantage between AAE and human anti-tTG. Although both tests offer elevated sensitivity and specificity, some studies have demonstrated varying degrees of agreement.^9,10 Recently, the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, analyzing the literature published from 1966 to 2003, released a new consensus statement on CD and recommended human anti-tTG as the test of choice for initial screening of groups at risk of CD.¹¹

The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of CD in children and adolescents with prior diagnosis of DM1, using the human anti-tTG test for screening.

Material and methods

This study was carried out at the pediatric endocrinology services of the public healthcare system in Recife, during the period from January to June in 2004. The study design is cross-sectional and descriptive, analyzing children and adolescents with previous DM1 diagnosis being treated at these services.

The sample was obtained by convenience, following the demand at the clinics involved, with sample size estimate based on an observed seroprevalence of 21% in a previous study carried out in Pernambuco with a small group of diabetic children and adolescents,¹² allowing for a prevalence variation of 25% either way and a confidence interval of 95%. The sample size thus estimated was 231 and 361 patients were recruited. The study population was made up of diabetic patients aged 2 years to 19 years and 11 months. The age of greater than or equal to 2 years was chosen due to the probability of children in our region being exposed to gluten for at least 1 year by this age. Patients were excluded if they had IgA deficiency because of the probability of false negatives for human anti-tTG IgA.

The variables studied were: age, according to Marcondes, with children from 2 years to 9 years and 11 months and adolescents from 10 years to 19 years and 11 months included; previous diagnosis of DM1, according to American Diabetes Association criteria. Positive seroprevalence for human anti-tTG with concentrations greater than 20 U/ml and positive for AAE with uniform fluorescence at a 1/5 dilution of serum.¹³ Patients were defined as IgA deficient if they had below-normal levels for their age group.¹⁴

All diabetic patients aged 2 years to 19 years and 11 months who presented at consultations during this period were approached and, after free and informed consent had been obtained, a questionnaire was completed and a blood sample taken, by venous puncture, into tubes without anticoagulant, for centrifugal separation of serum. Samples were aliquoted and frozen at -20 ºC until the laboratory tests were carried out. Serum assays for immunoglobulin A (IgA) were performed for all patients, human anti-tTG (IgA fraction) assays were then carried out for those patients who were not IgA-deficient and then AAE (IgA fraction) assays were carried out for patients whose human anti-tTG test was positive.

The human anti-tTG IgA test was performed using the enzyme immunoassay technique (Biosystems, Spain) by microplate test, in which antibodies present in the serum bond with antigens absorbed into the surface of the polyethylene microplate wells. Care was taken to ensure that controls were set up for 10% of the samples.

The AAE test was performed using indirect immunofluorescence, using distal sections of monkey esophagus fixed on microscope slides (Biosystems, Spain). The AAE in serum bonds with the substrate and is revealed by anti-IgA antibodies marked with fluorescein isothiocyanate.¹³ A technician experienced in immunofluorescence performed all readings using a LEITZ microscope with a mercury lamp (Germany).

The IgA assay was performed using immunoturbidimetry, with kits provided by Biosystems (Spain), and the automated Cobas Mira Plus system used for analysis.

Patients with positive serology were referred to the pediatric gastroenterology clinic for investigation and treatment. All test results, whether positive or negative, were duly added to the medical record of each patient.

Data were stored in an Epi-Info 6.0 file. The Check module was used to automatically verify data entry errors. Data was double input and the Validate module run. Seroprevalence was calculated from the proportion of individuals with positive serology for human anti-tTG in the study population, and the confidence interval (CI) was calculated.

The project was evaluated and approved in advance by the Human Research Ethics Committee at Instituto Materno-Infantil Professor Fernando Figueira, Recife, Brazil.

Results

Three hundred and sixty-one children and adolescents with prior diagnosis of DM1 were evaluated between January 1 and 30 June, 2004. Seven individuals were excluded because they exhibited IgA deficiency, with a total of 354 patients remaining. The median age was 12 years (p25 = 9 years, p75 = 15 years), with 184/354 (52.0%) being male and 170/354 (48%) female. There were 172/354 (48.6%) residents of Recife the metropolitan region and 182/354 (51.4%) from provincial Pernambuco state.

The human anti-tTG antibody test was positive in 37 of the 354 patients studied, resulting in overall seroprevalence of 10.5% (95%CI 7.6-14.2%). Seroprevalence for the subset of children was 13.8% (95%CI 7.9-21.6%) and for the adolescents this was 9% (95%CI 5.7-13.2%). Children predominated over adolescents, but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.2).

The ages of patients with positive anti-tTG antibody tests varied from 3 years and 5 months to 19 years and 10 months (median of 11 years; p25 = 8 years, p75 = 15 years). The male sex predominated (56.8%) over the female sex (43.2%), but without statistical significance (p = 0.66). Age at diagnosis of diabetes varied from 1 year to 12 years and 10 months, (median of 5 years; p25 = 3 years, p75 = 8 years), and time form diabetes diagnosis to sample collection varied from 1 month to 16 years and 10 months, (median of 6 years; p25 = 2 years, p75 = 9 years). Around 19% (7/37) of the anti-tTG positive patients had been diagnosed with DM1 for less than 2 years at the time of collection, with 13% (5/37) having had diabetes for less than 1 year.

The AAE assay was performed for all human anti-tTG positive patients, and the results were positive in 22/37 (59.5%) and negative in 14/37 patients (37.8%) with inconclusive results in 1/37 (2.7%). The endomysial antibody (EMA) test was positive in three patients (3/7) and negative in four (4/7) of those whose anti-tTG was positive and who had been diagnosed less than 2 years previously with DM1.

Discussion

Several studies have demonstrated a wide geographical variation in the seroprevalence of CD in diabetic children and adolescents worldwide, without, however, exhibiting any link with the incidence of DM1 or CD.^3,4,6,15,16 The highest incidence rates of DM1 in the world are in Nordic countries in Europe.¹⁷ However, studies of the seroprevalence of CD in diabetic children and adolescents, using anti-gliadin antibodies (AGA) for screening, found different results in countries in the same region: in Finland around 2.4%¹⁵ and in Denmark, 9.4%.³ The same can be observed when European countries that used the AAE test for screening are compared, such as Hungary (11.7%),¹⁸ Italy (6%)¹⁹ and Austria (3.5%),²⁰ suggesting that the variation may be due to population characteristics that are as yet unknown. Studies of the CD seroprevalence in North America, using AAE serological testing, returned more uniform results: in Canada around 8%²¹ and in the USA, 7%.¹⁶ The highest seroprevalence rates in the world for CD with DM1 were observed in Africa (Algeria 13.7% and Libya 21.3%),^4,6 although these studies used the AGA test, which is now considered a less sensitive and specific serological test.

The seroprevalence of CD in diabetic children and adolescents found in the current study was lower than rates observed in countries with socioeconomic conditions similar to ours, such as in the African studies using AGA⁴ or in India, with anti-tTG,²² and were similar to the USA (11.6%)²³ and higher than Germany (4.4%),¹⁰ in studies that used the human anti-tTG serological test for screening.

The cross-sectional design of this study allows the seroprevalence of CD in the selected population to be determined at a given moment. It is, however, known that patients with serology that is initially negative can become positive for CD over time. There is not yet consensus on the frequency with which serological tests should be repeated for diabetic patients. Some authors^24,25 recommend serological screening at the time of DM1 diagnosis and annually or biennially thereafter.

While the gold standard for the diagnosis of CD remains histological findings,¹¹ the fact that biopsy is an invasive method is an obstacle to its acceptance as a diagnostic method for initial investigation. Furthermore, the wide spectrum of CD and of its non-specific clinical manifestations makes the identification of patients requiring investigation problematic. Many studies have been carried out with the objective of identifying serological screening methods with adequate sensitivity and specificity that could, in the future, substitute biopsy for the diagnosis of CD.^9,10,15

Several articles have demonstrated the elevated accuracy of AAE.^9,13 However, there are certain limitations to its use on a large scale, such as the elevated cost, laborious technique and the fact that it is a semi-quantitative method, subject in part to observer interpretation. Furthermore, it has recently been observed that there may be a correlation between the degree of villous atrophy and positive AAE tests, which may be negative in patients with only partial alterations to the intestinal mucosa.²⁶ As a result of these problems, the human anti-tTG test has been suggested as the test of choice for initial screening. In addition to comparable sensitivity and specificity to AAE, the method is much simpler, and a large number of samples can be analyzed and with lower costs.⁹ Some authors have observed that, in patients with DM1 with and the silent form of CD, the anti-tTG test is more sensitive than AAE.¹⁰ On the other hand, the elevated number of false-positives in some studies using human anti-tTG has led some authors to suggest a new protocol using human anti-tTG for initial screening and AAE for positive cases.²⁷ In a recent publication, the a North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition recommends human anti-tTG as the test of choice for initial screening in high-risk groups for CD, followed by intestinal biopsy. Only when histological findings are not consistent with CD should AAE, HLA assay or a repeat biopsy be considered.¹¹

For the present study, the decision was taken to use sequential serology, with human anti-tTG for initial screening, followed by AAE testing of positive patients. We observed that 37% were anti-tTG positive, but AAE negative. Furthermore, we found positive EMA results in around 43% of the anti-tTG positive patients who had had diabetes for less than 2 years at the time samples were collected. The presence of EMA in patients with little time of DM1 diagnosis could suggest a higher probability of CD, since this antibody appears to be related with the degree of mucosal injury. It is only through follow-up of these patients and confirmation of histological findings that it will be possible to reach conclusions whether these results represent an elevated rate of false-positive results from anti-tTG testing, or, in contrast, the increased sensitivity of the method.

There is strong evidence for the association between IgA deficiency and CD, with a frequency of approximately 2%, which is 10 to 15 times more common than in the general population.²⁸ Individuals with IgA deficiency and CD do not form anti-IgA antibodies, and the serological tests for human anti-tTG and AAE commercially available are habitually limited to the IgA isotopes in antibodies. Serum IgA assay was included in the battery of tests in this study and it was observed that deficiency was confirmed in 7/361 (1.9%), with these patients being excluded from the study because of the chance of false-negative serology for CD.

There are suggestions that CD may be more prevalent among older age groups, due to greater length of gluten exposure.⁶ In high-risk groups such as DM1 patients, this association has not been confirmed, since other factors may be involved, such as age at diagnosis of diabetes and the time with diabetes at the time of testing. In this study, there was a predominance of seroprevalence in the subset of children when compared with the adolescents, without statistical significance (p = 0.2). One possible explanation is that the estimated sample size, for children and adolescents, was not sufficient for an analysis by age group. Another possibility is that age at diagnosis of diabetes is an important factor in the prevalence of CD.²⁰ Studies of children who had been diagnosed with DM1 before 5 years of age have demonstrated more accentuated autoimmunity, with more frequent presence of pancreatic islet cell antibodies and insulin autoantibodies than in the higher age group, in addition to accentuated genetic susceptibility demonstrated by more frequent associations with the genotype at risk of the HLA system defect,²⁹ leading to the belief that children who are younger at diagnosis may present a more elevated risk of developing other similar autoimmune diseases and biologically-based diseases like CD.

Calliari³⁰ states that the association between CD and DM1 should receive greater attention in the care of diabetic patients and proposes the performance of multicenter studies in Brazil. The seroprevalence of 10.5% observed in the current study is elevated, suggesting that screening for CD should be routinely undertaken for children and adolescents with DM1. Nevertheless, it is only after intestinal biopsy of these patients and the calculation of CD prevalence based on histological findings will it be possible to establish the value of human anti-tTG for screening our population.

Acknowledgements

This research was made possible by funds for purchasing the serological kits from the NOVO NORDISK laboratory.

We are grateful to the team at the Diva Montenegro Pathology and Clinical Analysis Laboratory, Prof. Francisco Montenegro and Suely Lyra, for their dedication to this project.

We would also like to thank Dr. Elcy Falcão, Dr. Amélia Melo and Dr. Cíntia Waechter, for helping with enrolling patients.

References

Manuscript received Oct 24 2005, accepted for publication Jan 18 2006.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  10 July 2006
• Date of issue
  June 2006

History

• Accepted
  18 Jan 2006
• Received
  24 Oct 2005