Coeliac Disease Case-Control Study: Has the Time Come to Explore beyond Patients at Risk?

The worldwide prevalence of asymptomatic coeliac disease (CD) is increasing, which is in part due to the routine screening of children with risk factors. Both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with CD are at risk of long-term complications. The objective of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics of asymptomatic and symptomatic children at the time of CD diagnosis. A case-control study was conducted using data from a cohort of 4838 CD patients recruited from 73 centers across Spain between 2011 and 2017. A total of 468 asymptomatic patients (cases) were selected and matched by age and sex with 468 symptomatic patients (controls). Clinical data, including any reported symptoms, as well as serologic, genetic, and histopathologic data were collected. No significant differences were found between the two groups in most clinical variables, nor in the degree of intestinal lesion. However, the asymptomatic patients were taller (height z-score -0.12 (1.06) vs. -0.45 (1.19), p < 0.001) and were less likely to have anti transglutaminase IgA antibodies ≥ 10 times the upper normal limit (66.2% vs. 758.4%, p = 0.002). Among the 37.1% of asymptomatic patients who were not screened for CD due to the absence of risk factors, only 34% were truly asymptomatic, while the remaining 66% reported non-specific CD-related symptoms. Therefore, expanding CD screening to any child who undergoes a blood test could reduce the burden of care for some children, as many of those considered asymptomatic reported non-specific CD-related symptoms.

"Geographical distribution of risk genotypes in pediatric patients with celiac disease in Spain".

Celiac disease is strongly associated with HLA DQ, specifically with haplotypes. DRB1*03-DQA1*05:01/DQB1*02:01 (DQ2.5),DRB1*07-DQA1*02:01/DQB1*02:02 (DQ2.2), DRB1*11-DQA1*05:05/DQB1*03:01 (DQ7.5), and DRB1*04-DQA1*03:01/DQB1*03:02 (DQ8). The distribution of these risk haplotypes in patients with celiac disease is different in the geographical areas investigated. A high frequency of DRB1*07- DQA1*02:01/DQB1*02:02 (DQ2.2) and DRB1*11-DQA1*05:05/DQB1*03:01 (DQ7.5), has been described in Southern Europe. We analyzed 2102 confirmed CD cases with information on both DQB1* alelles and their distribution by geographical area in Spain. According to the presence of this haplotype in one or two chromosomes, the genotype is classified in: DQ2 homozygous, DQ2 heterozygous (cis or trans), DQ8 homozygous, DQ8/DQ2.5, DQ 2.2 homozygous and genotype known as "half DQ2". Two different patterns of risks related to CD were identified. In the Basque Country and Navarre, the Mediterranean Area (Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia, Balearic Islands, and Murcia), the South of Spain (Andalucía and Extremadura), and the Canary Islands, higher frequency of DQ2.5 trans, and more than 80% of DQ2.5/DQ2.2 homozygosis were described. The Cantabrian Coast (Cantabria, Asturias, and Galicia) and Central Areas (Castilla-León and Castilla-La Mancha) showed a higher percentage of DQ2.5/DQ2.5 homozygosis and a lower DQ2.5 in trans frequency, as in Northern Europe. Madrid has an intermediate model between the two described above. 17 cases (0.8%) did not carry any CD risk haplotypes.

ESPGHAN Position Paper on Management and Follow-up of Children and Adolescents With Celiac Disease.

OBJECTIVES: To gather the current evidence and to offer recommendations for follow-up and management. METHODS: The Special Interest Group on Celiac Diseases of the European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition formulated ten questions considered to be essential for follow-up care. A literature search (January 2010-March 2020) was performed in PubMed or Medline. Relevant publications were identified and potentially eligible studies were assessed. Statements and recommendations were developed and discussed by all coauthors. Recommendations were voted upon: joint agreement was set as at least 85%. RESULTS: Publications (n = 2775) were identified and 164 were included. Using evidence or expert opinion, 37 recommendations were formulated on: The need to perform follow-up, its frequency and what should be assessed, how to assess adherence to the gluten-free diet, when to expect catch-up growth, how to treat anemia, how to approach persistent high serum levels of antibodies against tissue-transglutaminase, the indication to perform biopsies, assessment of quality of life, management of children with unclear diagnosis for which a gluten-challenge is indicated, children with associated type 1 diabetes or IgA deficiency, cases of potential celiac disease, which professionals should perform follow-up, how to improve the communication to patients and their parents/caregivers and transition from pediatric to adult health care. CONCLUSIONS: We offer recommendations to improve follow-up of children and adolescents with celiac disease and highlight gaps that should be investigated to further improve management.

Prediction Models for Celiac Disease Development in Children From High-Risk Families: Data From the PreventCD Cohort.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Screening for celiac disease (CD) is recommended in children with affected first-degree relatives (FDR). However, the frequency of screening and at what age remain unknown. The aims of this study were to detect variables influencing the risk of CD development and develop and validate clinical prediction models to provide individualized screening advice. METHODS: We analyzed prospective data from the 10 years of follow-up of the PreventCD-birth cohort involving 944 genetically predisposed children with CD-FDR. Variables significantly influencing the CD risk were combined to determine a risk score. Landmark analyses were performed at different ages. Prediction models were created using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analyses, backward elimination, and Harrell's c-index for discrimination. Validation was done using data from the independent NeoCel cohort. RESULTS: In March 2019, the median follow-up was 8.3 years (22 days-12.0 years); 135/944 children developed CD (mean age, 4.3 years [range, 1.1-11.4]). CD developed significantly more often in girls (P = .005) and in Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-DQ2 homozygous individuals (8-year cumulative incidence rate of 35.4% vs maximum of the other HLA-risk groups 18.2% [P < .001]). The effect of homozygosity DR3-DQ2/DR7-DQ2 on CD development was only present in girls (interaction P = .04). The prediction models showed good fit in the validation cohort (Cox regression 0.81 [0.54]). To calculate a personalized risk of CD development and provide screening advice, we designed the Prediction application https://hputter.shinyapps.io/preventcd/. CONCLUSION: Children with CD-FDR develop CD early in life, and their risk depends on gender, age and HLA-DQ, which are all factors that are important for sound screening advice. These children should be screened early in life, including HLA-DQ2/8-typing, and if genetically predisposed to CD, they should get further personalized screening advice using our Prediction application. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN74582487 (https://www.isrctn.com/search?q=ISRCTN74582487).

Breast-Milk Microbiota Linked to Celiac Disease Development in Children: A Pilot Study From the PreventCD Cohort.

Celiac disease (CeD) is an immune-mediated disorder triggered by exposure to dietary gluten proteins in genetically predisposed individuals. In addition to the host genome, the microbiome has recently been linked to CeD risk and pathogenesis. To progress in our understanding of the role of breast milk microbiota profiles in CeD, we have analyzed samples from a sub-set of mothers (n = 49) included in the PreventCD project, whose children did or did not develop CeD. The results of the microbiota data analysis indicated that neither the BMI, HLA-DQ genotype, the CeD condition nor the gluten-free diet of the mothers could explain the human milk microbiota profiles. Nevertheless, we found that origin country, the offspring's birth date and, consequently, the milk sampling date influenced the abundance and prevalence of microbes in human milk, undergoing a transition from an anaerobic to a more aerobic microbiota, including potential pathogenic species. Furthermore, certain microbial species were more abundant in milk samples from mothers whose children went on to develop CeD compared to those that remained healthy. These included increases in facultative methylotrophs such as Methylobacterium komagatae and Methylocapsa palsarum as well as in species such as Bacteroides vulgatus, that consumes fucosylated-oligosaccharides present in human milk, and other breast-abscess associated species. Theoretically, these microbiota components could be vertically transmitted from mothers-to-infants during breastfeeding, thereby influencing CeD risk.

Growth rate of coeliac children is compromised before the onset of the disease.

INTRODUCTION: Growth impairment has often been described in children who develop coeliac disease (CD). Based on data from the multicentre, longitudinal PreventCD study, we analysed the growth patterns of infants at genetic risk of CD, comparing those who developed CD by 6 years of age (CD 'cases', 113 infants) versus those who did not develop CD by 6 years (no CD 'controls', 831 infants). METHODS: Weight and length/height were measured using a longitudinal protocol. Raw measurements were standardised, computing z-scores for length/height and weight; a linear mixed model was fitted to the data in order to compare the rate of growth in the two cohorts. RESULTS: Neither cases nor controls had significant growth failure. However, when the mean z-scores for weight and height were analysed, there was a difference between the two groups starting at fourth month of life. When the growth pattern in the first year was analysed longitudinally using mixed models, it emerged that children who develop CD had a significantly lower growth rate in weight z-score (-0.028/month; 95% CI -0.038 to -0.017; p<0.001) and in length/height z-score (-0.018/month; 95% CI -0.031 to -0.005; p=0.008) than those who do not develop CD. When the whole follow-up period was analysed (0-6 years), differences between groups in both weight and length/height z-scores were confirmed. CONCLUSION: The growth of children at risk of CD rarely fell below 'clinical standards'. However, growth rate was significantly lower in cases than in controls. Our data suggest that peculiar pathways of growth are present in children who develop CD, long before any clinical or serological signs of the disease appear.

Variation and Interdependencies of Human Milk Macronutrients, Fatty Acids, Adiponectin, Insulin, and IGF-II in the European PreventCD Cohort.

Human milk composition is variable. The identification of influencing factors and interdependencies of components may help to understand the physiology of lactation. In this study, we analyzed linear trends in human milk composition over time, the variation across different European countries and the influence of maternal celiac disease. Within a multicenter European study exploring potential prevention of celiac disease in a high-risk population (PreventCD), 569 human milk samples were donated by women from five European countries between 16 and 163 days postpartum. Some 202 mothers provided two samples at different time points. Protein, carbohydrates, fat and fatty acids, insulin, adiponectin, and insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) were analyzed. Milk protein and n-6 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids decreased during the first three months of lactation. Fatty acid composition was significantly influenced by the country of residence. IGF-II and adiponectin concentrations correlated with protein content (r = 0.24 and r = 0.35), and IGF-II also correlated with fat content (r = 0.36), suggesting a possible regulatory role of IGF in milk macronutrient synthesis. Regarding the impact of celiac disease, only the level in palmitic acid was influenced by this disease, suggesting that breastfeeding by celiac disease mothers should not be discouraged.

Influence of HLA on clinical and analytical features of pediatric celiac disease.

BACKGROUND: Celiac disease (CD) is triggered by gluten and related prolamines in genetically susceptible individuals. We aimed to investigate the influence of HLA-DQ genotypes in clinical, serological and histological features related to CD. METHODS: A retrospective observational study was performed including 463 Spanish patients with biopsy-proven CD. Clinical, serological, histological and HLA-DQ genetic data were collected from each participant. The presence of a family history of CD was also considered. Bivariate (chi-square tests or the Fisher's exact test) and multivariate (logistic regression after adjusting for age and sex) analyses were performed to assess the association between clinical and laboratory parameters with HLA-DQ. RESULTS: A predominance of females (62%), classical clinical presentation (86%) and positive anti-transglutaminase 2/endomysium antibodies (99%) was observed in our sample, with a mean age at onset of 2.6 ± 0.1 years. Five percent of our patients were first-degree relatives of subjects with CD, with HLA-DQ genetics showing increased homozygosity of HLA-DQ2.5 (p = 0.03) and HLA-DQ8 (p = 0.09). In the non-CD family history group, an association between delayed disease onset and HLA-DQ8 carriage was observed (p < 0.001), besides an influence of HLA-DQB1*02 gene dosage on clinical presentation and severity of histological damage (after adjusting for age and sex, p = 0.05 and p = 0.02, respectively) and a trend towards presence of specific antibodies (p = 0.09). These associations could not be evaluated properly in the group of patients with affected first-degree relatives due to the small sample size. CONCLUSIONS: HLA-DQ genotypic frequencies differ slightly between CD patients depending on their family history of CD. In patients lacking CD first-degree relatives, carriage of HLA-DQ2.5 with double dose of HLA-DQB1*02 seems to be associated with classical clinical presentation and more severe histological damage.

Consensus document on exclusion diets in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

This paper summarizes the contents of a consensus document on exclusion diets in irritable bowel disease that was developed by a task force from SEPD, FEAD, SENPE, FESNAD, SEÑ, SEEN, SEGHNP, SEDCA and ADENYD. The complete document is available at the FEAD and in SENPE websites. Irritable bowel syndrome is a highly prevalent functional digestive disorder where, in addition to drugs, therapy includes diet and acquisition of healthy habits as basic elements for its control. In order to facilitate dietary counseling for these patients in daily practice, the present consensus document on the role of exclusion diets was developed. To this end, consensus opinions were collected from various experts in the national scientific societies aiming at establishing recommendations applicable to the health care of patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

Consensus document on exclusion diets in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

This paper summarizes the contents of a consensus document on exclusion diets in irritable bowel disease that was developed by a task force from SEPD, FEAD, SENPE, FESNAD, SEÑ, SEEN, SEGHNP, SEDCA and ADENYD. The complete document is available at the SEPD website. Irritable bowel syndrome is a highly prevalent functional digestive disorder where, in addition to drugs, therapy includes diet and acquisition of healthy habits as basic elements for its control. In order to facilitate dietary counseling for these patients in daily practice, the present consensus document on the role of exclusion diets was developed. To this end, consensus opinions were collected from various experts in the national scientific societies aiming at establishing recommendations applicable to the health care of patients with irritable bowel syndrome.

The impact of human breast milk components on the infant metabolism.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Breastfeeding is beneficial for mothers and infants. Underlying mechanisms and biochemical mediators thus need to be investigated to develop and support improved infant nutrition practices promoting the child health. We analysed the relation between maternal breast milk composition and infant metabolism. METHODS: 196 pairs of mothers and infants from a European research project (PreventCD) were studied. Maternal milk samples collected at month 1 and month 4 after birth were analysed for macronutrient classes, hormone, and fatty acid (FA) content. Phospholipids, acylcarnitines, and amino acids were measured in serum samples of 4-month old infants. Associations between milk components and infant metabolites were analysed with spearman correlation and linear mixed effect models (LME). P-values were corrected for multiple testing (PLME). RESULTS: Month 1 milk protein content was strongly associated with infant serum lyso-phosphatidylcholine (LPC) 14:0 (PLME = 0.009). Month 1 milk insulin was associated to infant acetylcarnitine (PLME = 0.01). There were no associations between milk protein content and serum amino acids and milk total fat content and serum polar lipids. Middle- and odd-chain FA% in breast milk at both ages were significantly related to serum LPC and sphingomyelins (SM) species in infant serum (all PLME<0.05), while FA% 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 percentages were significantly associated to serum LPC 22:6 (PLME = 1.91×10-4/7.93×10-5) in milk only at month 4. Other polyunsaturated fatty acids and hormones in milk showed only weak associations with infant serum metabolites. CONCLUSIONS: Infant serum LPC are influenced by breast milk FA composition and, intriguingly, milk protein content in early but not late lactation. LPC 14:0, previously found positively associated with obesity risk, was the serum metabolite which was the most strongly associated to milk protein content. Thus, LPC 14:0 might be a key metabolite not only reflecting milk protein intake in infants, but also relating high protein content in milk or infant formula to childhood obesity risk.

Ten years of follow-up of the Spanish cohort of the European PreventCD study: the lessons learned.

AIM: to evaluate the influence of gluten consumption on celiac disease development and to describe its natural history in the Spanish cohort of the European PreventCD study. METHODS: prospective multi-center double blind study of 225 children that were followed up from birth. All cases were HLA-DQ2/HLA-DQ8 positive with a 1st degree relative with celiac disease and were followed up in three centers from Madrid, Reus and Valencia. Gluten intake was determined between four and ten months according to the protocol. Gluten intake was ad libitum between eleven and 36 months and was prospectively quantified by means of dietary records. Clinical visits and specific antibody analysis for celiac disease were performed periodically. RESULTS: twenty-six cases were diagnosed, all had a positive biopsy and serology; 21 had gastrointestinal symptoms and five were asymptomatic. In addition, 2,565 food records were analyzed and statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) were found with regard to gluten consumption among the three centers, although not between celiac and non-celiac children (p = 0.025). The HLA-DQ2.5/DQ2.5 and DQ2.5/DQ2.2 genotypes had a relative risk of 4.7 (95% CI: 0.80-27.55; p = 0.08), which was higher than for the rest of genotypes. Female gender also had a relative risk that was five times higher than that for males. CONCLUSIONS: the amount of gluten intake between 11 and 36 months or the duration of breast feeding were not risk factors for the development of CD in the Spanish population. The HLA genotype and gender were the most relevant associated factors. In this at-risk group, the disease presented before two years of age in the majority of the cases with a weak clinical expression.

HLA-DQ distribution and risk assessment of celiac disease in a Spanish center.

AIMS: celiac disease is a multisystem immune-mediated disease triggered by gluten in genetically susceptible individuals. The HLA-DQ2 and/or HLA-DQ8 heterodimers are encoded by the main genetic predisposing factors and their presence is required for the development of the immunological response that leads to the disease. However, the HLA-conferred risk can differ within different countries. The aim of the study was to analyze the risk of Spanish children to develop celiac disease according to their HLA-DQ genotype. METHODS: a retrospective observational case-control study was performed using a sample of 475 celiac patients and 628 controls. RESULTS: children carrying the HLA-DQ2.5 had the highest disease risk, especially those with two HLA-DQB1*02 alleles. A similar high risk was observed in HLA-DQ8 homozygous individuals. A risk conferred by HLA-DQ8 in heterozygosity and HLA-DQ2.2 was also found and two patients with celiac disease carried the HLA-DQ7.5 haplotype as the only HLA risk factor. CONCLUSIONS: there are four genetic risk categories according to the HLA-DQ genotype. The HLA-DQ7.5 genotype does not confer risk but should not be used to rule out celiac disease when a high suspicion of the disease exists. These findings could be relevant to determine when to perform serological screening in asymptomatic subjects at risk of celiac disease.

Increased prevalence of pathogenic bacteria in the gut microbiota of infants at risk of developing celiac disease: The PROFICEL study.

Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated enteropathy involving genetic and environmental factors, whose interaction influences disease risk. The intestinal microbiota, including viruses and bacteria, could play a role in the pathological process leading to gluten intolerance. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of pathogens in the intestinal microbiota of infants at familial risk of developing CD. We included 127 full-term newborns with at least one first-degree relative with CD. Infants were classified according to milk-feeding practice (breastfeeding or formula feeding) and HLA-DQ genotype (low, intermediate or high genetic risk). The prevalence of pathogenic bacteria and viruses was assessed in the faeces of the infants at 7 days, 1 month and 4 months of age. The prevalence of Clostridium perfringens was higher in formula-fed infants than in breast-fed over the study period, and that of C. difficile at 4 months. Among breastfed infants, a higher prevalence of enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) was found in infants with the highest genetic risk compared either to those with a low or intermediate risk. Among formula-fed infants, a higher prevalence of ETEC was also found in infants with a high genetic risk compared to those of intermediate risk. Our results show that specific factors, such as formula feeding and the HLA-DQ2 genotype, previously linked to a higher risk of developing CD, influence the presence of pathogenic bacteria differently in the intestinal microbiota in early life. Further studies are warranted to establish whether these associations are related to CD onset later in life.

Bifidobacterium longum subsp infantis CECT7210-supplemented formula reduces diarrhea in healthy infants: a randomized controlled trial.

BackgroundIntestinal microbiota of breast-fed infants is plenty of beneficial bifidobacteria. We aimed to determine whether an infant formula supplemented with probiotic Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis CECT7210 (B. infantis IM1) is effective at reducing diarrhea incidence in healthy term infants.MethodsDouble-blinded, randomized, multicenter, controlled clinical trial, where formula-fed infants (<3 months) received an infant formula supplemented (Probiotic) or not (Control) with 107 cfu/g of B. infantis IM1 over 12 weeks. Diarrheas, growth, digestive symptoms, stool bifidobacteria, and microbiota were assessed.ResultsIn all, 97 (Control) and 93 (Probiotic) infants were randomized, and 78 (Control) and 73 (Probiotic) completed the 12 week-follow-up. In the overall study period, a median of 0.29±1.07 and 0.05±0.28 diarrhea events/infant was observed in the Control and Probiotic groups, respectively (P=0.059). This trend to less diarrhea episodes in the Probiotic group reached statistical significance at 8 weeks (0.12±0.47 vs. 0.0±0.0 events/infant, P=0.047). Constipation incidence was higher (odds ratio (OR) 2.67 (1.09-6.50)) and stool frequency lower (2.0±1.0 vs. 2.6±1.3 stools/day, P=0.038) in the Control group after 4 weeks. No differences were found at other time points nor in other digestive symptoms, growth, or formula intake.ConclusionA B. infantis IM1-supplemented infant formula may reduce diarrhea episodes, being safe, well tolerated, and associated with lower constipation prevalence.

Histopathological evaluation of duodenal biopsy in the PreventCD project. An observational interobserver agreement study.

Aim of the current study was to evaluate the inter-observer agreement between pathologists in the diagnosis of celiac disease (CD), in the qualified context of a multicenter study. Biopsies from the "PreventCD" study, a multinational- prospective- randomized study in children with at least one-first-degree relative with CD and positive for HLA-DQ2/HLA-DQ8. Ninety-eight biopsies were evaluated. Considering diagnostic samples with villous atrophy (VA), the agreement was satisfactory (κ = 0.84), but much less when assessing the severity of these lesions. The use of the recently proposed Corazza-Villanacci classification showed a moderately higher level of agreement (κ = 0.39) than using the Marsh-Oberhuber system (κ = 0.31). 57.1% of cases were considered correctly oriented. A number of >4 samples per patient was statistically associated to a better agreement; orientation did not impact on κ values. Agreement results in this study appear more satisfactory than in previous papers and this is justified by the involvement of centers with experience in CD diagnosis and by the well-controlled setting. Despite this, the reproducibility was far from optimal with a poor agreement in grading the severity of VA. Our results stress the need of a minimum of four samples to be assessed by the pathologist.

Anti-gliadin antibodies in breast milk from celiac mothers on a gluten-free diet.

PURPOSE: To analyze the presence of total IgA and anti-gliadin antibodies (AGA) in BM from CD mothers who follow a gluten-free diet (GFD) and from mothers on a normal gluten-containing diet (ND). METHODS: 218 samples of mature milk were obtained at different months of lactation (1-6) from 83 mothers (2 or more samples per mother) from Italy (Naples), The Netherlands (Leiden) and Spain (Madrid, Valencia and Reus): 42 CD mothers on GFD for more than 2 years and 41 non-CD mothers on a ND. Whey samples were analyzed for AGA-IgA by an indirect homemade ELISA and for total IgA (g/L) by a commercial ELISA kit. RESULTS: AGA-IgA was detected in BM, both in mothers on a GFD and mothers on a ND. AGA-IgA levels in both groups of mothers, CD and non-CD, show the same trend towards decreasing slightly along the months of lactation (p = 0.91). A different trend is observed for total IgA levels, decreasing markedly in CD mothers from the first month of lactation onwards but remaining stable in non-CD mothers (p = 0.048). A statistically significant association was found between the means of total IgA and AGA-IgA (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: AGA-IgA is present in BM from mothers on a ND as well as in BM from mothers who had been on a GFD for years. This reflects the existence of a long-lasting immunological memory independent of the mother's diet. If the presence of these antibodies has any role in promoting the acquisition of gluten tolerance in the infant, our study shows that children of CD mothers would be on equal conditions as children of non-CD mothers.

Efficacy of a point-of-care test based on deamidated gliadin peptides for the detection of celiac disease in pediatric patients.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of a point-of-care test (POCT) based on deamidated gliadin peptides (DGP) compared to the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) criteria diagnosis in the early detection of celiac disease (CD) in pediatric patients. METHODS: One hundred children (≤ 18 years) with suspected CD were selected, including siblings of celiac children that underwent gastroscopy for other gastrointestinal conditions. Patients with severe disease, following a gluten-free diet (GFD), with gastrointestinal bleeding, coagulopathy and infections in the last month were excluded. All children were evaluated with a POCT that detects immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to DGP and total IgA. The POCT results were compared to CD diagnosis according to current ESPGHAN criteria. This involved the detection of IgA tissue transglutaminase (tTG) antibodies, the results of an intestinal biopsy and genetic testing. RESULTS: The prevalence of CD found in the present study was 48% (95% confidence interval in parenthesis 37.9-58.2%). The results of the POCT were concordant with the CD diagnosis made according to ESPGHAN criteria: 95.8% (85.7-99.4%) sensitivity, 98.1% (89.7-99.7%) specificity, 97.9% (88.7-99.6%) positive predictive value and 96.2% (87.0-99.4%) negative predictive value. Positive and negative likelihood ratios were 49.8 (7.2-347.5) and 0.04 (0.01-0.17), respectively. The POCT showed a 100% diagnostic accuracy in children younger than ten years of age. In total, three discordant results were found. CONCLUSION: Due to the high diagnostic accuracy in the pediatric population, the POCT can be considered as an effective tool for the early diagnosis of CD, especially in patients younger than ten years of age.