The Risk of Contracting COVID-19 Is Not Increased in Patients With Celiac Disease.

The World Health Organization declared coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) a global pandemic in March 2020. Since then, there are more than 34 million cases of COVID-19 leading to more than 1 million deaths worldwide. Numerous studies suggest that celiac disease (CeD), a chronic immune-mediated gastrointestinal condition triggered by gluten, is associated with an increased risk of respiratory infections.1-3 However, how it relates to the risk of COVID-19 is unknown. To address this gap, we conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate whether patients with self-reported CeD are at an increased risk of contracting COVID-19.

Comparison of weekly gluten immunogenic peptide measurement and conventional tools to assess adherence to the gluten-free diet in celiac disease: An observational prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Adherence to the gluten-free diet (GFD) is critical to achieving symptom control and mucosal healing in celiac disease (CeD), but its assessment is difficult. OBJECTIVES: We sought to compare stool gluten immunogenic peptides (GIPs) measurements over a 4-wk period with conventional tools commonly used to monitor compliance with a GFD. METHODS: Consecutive adult patients with CeD attending the Small Bowel Section of the Buenos Aires Gastroenterology Hospital were invited to this observational study and were instructed to collect stool samples on Fridays for 4 consecutive weeks. Weekly mean stool GIP concentration was measured was estimated. GIP results were compared with a self-assessment scale of adherence, specific CeD serology, the celiac symptom index, and the assessment by an expert dietitian. RESULTS: Fifty-three CeD patients were enrolled and those with stool GIP ≥0.65 µg/g/wk (n = 13; 24.5%) had higher serum concentrations of IgA deamidated gliadin peptides (DGPs) antibodies [69 (29-109) compared with 14 (13-29); P = 0.0005] and IgA tissue transglutaminase [42 (14-200) compared with 10 (7-16); P = 0.02], higher proportion of cases with IgA DGP antibodies >20 AU/mL (84.6% compared with 33.3%; P = 0.002), and a higher self-estimated adherence score [5 (4-9) compared with 9 (7-10); P = 0.003]. GIP did not correlate with celiac symptom index scores (55.6% compared with 30.8%; P = 0.9). Expert dietitian assessment identified 69% [odds ratio (OR): 5.25; 95% CI: 1.1-27.2; P = 0.01] of nonadherent cases when high stool GIP. Logistic regression analysis determined that IgA DGP (adjusted OR: 1.1; 95% CI: 1.01-1.11; P = 0.02) and males (adjusted OR: 28.3; 95% CI: 1.1-722.6; P = 0.04) were independently associated with excessive gluten exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Weekly stool GIP identifies gluten exposure that is not always detected by commonly used GFD adherence assessment methods. The higher the concentration of stool GIP, the better the predictive value of serology and dietitian interviews. Stool GIP is a useful and practical test for GFD monitoring, particularly for risky gluten exposure in real-life scenarios.

Risk perception and knowledge of COVID-19 in patients with celiac disease.

BACKGROUND: We recently demonstrated that the odds of contracting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with celiac disease (CeD) is similar to that of the general population. However, how patients with CeD perceive their COVID-19 risk may differ from their actual risk. AIM: To investigate risk perceptions of contracting COVID-19 in patients with CeD and determine the factors that may influence their perception. METHODS: We distributed a survey throughout 10 countries between March and June 2020 and collected data on demographics, diet, COVID-19 testing, and risk perceptions of COVID-19 in patients with CeD. Participants were recruited through various celiac associations, clinic visits, and social media. Risk perception was assessed by asking individuals whether they believe patients with CeD are at an increased risk of contracting COVID-19 when compared to the general population. Logistic regression was used to determine the influencing factors associated with COVID-19 risk perception, such as age, sex, adherence to a gluten-free diet (GFD), and comorbidities such as cardiac conditions, respiratory conditions, and diabetes. Data was presented as adjusted odds ratios (aORs). RESULTS: A total of 10737 participants with CeD completed the survey. From them, 6019 (56.1%) patients with CeD perceived they were at a higher risk or were unsure if they were at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 compared to the non-CeD population. A greater proportion of patients with CeD perceived an increased risk of contracting COVID-19 when compared to infections in general due to their CeD (56.1% vs 26.7%, P < 0.0001). Consequently, 34.8% reported taking extra COVID-19 precautions as a result of their CeD. Members of celiac associations were less likely to perceive an increased risk of COVID-19 when compared to non-members (49.5% vs 57.4%, P < 0.0001). Older age (aOR: 0.99; 95%CI: 0.99 to 0.99, P < 0.001), male sex (aOR: 0.84; 95%CI: 0.76 to 0.93, P = 0.001), and strict adherence to a GFD (aOR: 0.89; 95%CI: 0.82 to 0.96, P = 0.007) were associated with a lower perception of COVID-19 risk and the presence of comorbidities was associated with a higher perception of COVID-19 risk (aOR: 1.38; 95%CI: 1.22 to 1.54, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Overall, high levels of risk perceptions, such as those found in patients with CeD, may increase an individual's pandemic-related stress and contribute to negative mental health consequences. Therefore, it is encouraged that public health officials maintain consistent communication with the public and healthcare providers with the celiac community. Future studies specifically evaluating mental health in CeD could help determine the consequences of increased risk perceptions in this population.

Gluten immunogenic peptide excretion detects dietary transgressions in treated celiac disease patients.

BACKGROUND: Life-long removal of gluten from the diet is currently the only way to manage celiac disease (CeD). Until now, no objective test has proven useful to objectively detect ingested gluten in clinical practice. Recently, tests that determine consumption of gluten by assessing excretion of gluten immunogenic peptides (GIP) in stool and urine have been developed. Their utility, in comparison with conventional dietary and analytical follow-up strategies, has not been fully established. AIM: To assess the performance of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and point-of-care tests (PoCTs) for GIP excretion in CeD patients on gluten-free diet (GFD). METHODS: We conducted an observational, prospective, cross-sectional study in patients following a GFD for at least two years. Using the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale questionnaire, patients were classified at enrollment as asymptomatic or symptomatic. Gluten consumption was assessed twice by 3-d dietary recall and GIP excretion (by ELISA in stool and PoCTs (commercial kits for stool and urine) in two consecutive samples. These samples and dietary reports were obtained 10 day apart one from the other. Patients were encouraged to follow their usual GFD during the study period. RESULTS: Forty-four patients were enrolled, of which 19 (43.2%) were symptomatic despite being on a GFD. Overall, 83 sets of stool and/or urine samples were collected. Eleven out of 44 patients (25.0%) had at least one positive GIP test. The occurrence of at least one positive test was 32% in asymptomatic patients compared with 15.8% in symptomatic patients. GIP was concordant with dietary reports in 65.9% of cases (Cohen´s kappa: 0.317). PoCT detected dietary indiscretions. Both ELISA and PoCT in stool were concordant (concomitantly positive or negative) in 67 out of 74 (90.5%) samples. Excretion of GIP was detected in 7 (8.4%) stool and/or urine samples from patients considered to be strictly compliant with the GFD by dietary reports. CONCLUSION: GIP detects dietary transgressions in patients on long-term GFD, irrespective of the presence of symptoms. PoCT for GIP detection constitutes a simple home-based method for self-assessment of dietary indiscretions.

Significant bone microarchitecture impairment in premenopausal women with active celiac disease.

Patients with active celiac disease (CD) are more likely to have osteoporosis and increased risk of fractures. High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) permits three-dimensional exploration of bone microarchitectural characteristics measuring separately cortical and trabecular compartments, and giving a more profound insight into bone disease pathophysiology and fracture. We aimed to determine the volumetric and microarchitectural characteristics of peripheral bones-distal radius and tibia-in an adult premenopausal cohort with active CD assessed at diagnosis. We prospectively enrolled 31 consecutive premenopausal women with newly diagnosed CD (median age 29 years, range: 18-49) and 22 healthy women of similar age (median age 30 years, range 21-41) and body mass index. Compared with controls, peripheral bones of CD patients were significantly lower in terms of total volumetric density mg/cm(3) (mean ± SD: 274.7 ± 51.7 vs. 324.7 ± 45.8, p 0.0006 at the radius; 264.4 ± 48.7 vs. 307 ± 40.7, p 0.002 at the tibia), trabecular density mg/cm(3) (118.6 ± 31.5 vs. 161.9 ± 33.6, p<0.0001 at the radius; 127.9 ± 28.7 vs. 157.6 ± 15.6, p < 0.0001 at the tibia); bone volume/trabecular volume ratio % (9.9 ± 2.6 vs. 13.5 ± 2.8, p<0.0001 at the radius; 10.6 ± 2.4 vs. 13.1 ± 1.3, p < 0.0001 at the tibia); number of trabeculae 1/mm (1.69 ± 0.27 vs. 1.89 ± 0.26, p 0.009 at the radius; 1.53 ± 0.32 vs. 1.80 ± 0.26, p 0.002 at the tibia); and trabecular thickness mm (0.058 ± 0.010 vs. 0.071 ± 0.008, p < 0.0001 at the radius with no significant difference at the tibia). Cortical density was significantly lower in both regions (D comp mg/cm(3) 860 ± 57.2 vs. 893.9 ± 43, p 0.02; 902.7 ± 48.7 vs. 932.6 ± 32.6, p 0.01 in radius and tibia respectively). Although cortical thickness was lower in CD patients, it failed to show any significant inter-group difference (a-8% decay with p 0.11 in both bones). Patients with symptomatic CD (n = 22) had a greater bone microarchitectural deficit than those with subclinical CD. HR-pQCT was used to successfully identify significant deterioration in the microarchitecture of trabecular and cortical compartments of peripheral bones. Impairment was characterized by lower trabecular number and thickness-which increased trabecular network heterogeneity-and lower cortical density and thickness. In the prospective follow-up of this group of patients we expect to be able to assess whether bone microarchitecture recovers and to what extend after gluten-free diet.

Informe final del grupo de estudio de enfermedad celíaca / Final report of the group of celiac disease

Elección del tema de trabajo: Enfermedad Celíaca. Adherencia a la Dieta Libre de Gluten. Revisión bibliográfica sobre el tema: Diferentes formas de medir la Adherencia a la Dieta Libre de Gluten. Revisiones y artículos de los últimos 10 años y trabajos de mayor antigüedad referentes en el tema. Los objetivos son: 1. Resumir el conocimiento existente sobre la definición de la adherencia terapéutica. 2. Identificar qué entiende la comunidad científica por adherencia y definir la magnitud del problema.3. Listar las diferentes formas de medir adherencia y si cuentan con validez científica. 4. Promover el debate de los temas relacionados con la adherencia terapéutica.