THE PREVALENCE OF CELIAC DISEASE IN PATIENTS WITH IRON-DEFICIENCY ANEMIA IN CENTER AND SOUTH AREA OF IRAN

Background - Celiac disease is an immune-mediated enteropathy due to a permanent sensitivity to gluten in genetically susceptible people. Iron-deficiency anemia is the most widely experienced anemia in humans. Iron-deficiency anemia additionally is a common extra intestinal manifestation of celiac disease. Objective - To investigate correlation between tTg levels and histological alterations and then to determine the prevalence of celiac disease in Center and South area patients of Iran with iron deficiency anemia. Methods - A total of 402 patients aged 12-78 years who presented with iron-deficiency anemia were included in this study. Hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume and serum ferritin were determined. Venous blood samples for anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody immunoglobuline A and G were obtained from these patients. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was recommended to patients who had positive serology. Results - Of 402 patients with iron-deficiency anemia, 42 (10.4%) had positive serology for celiac disease. The small intestine biopsy of all patients with positive serology showed pathological changes (Marsh I, II & III). There was not significant difference in the mean hemoglobin level between iron-deficiency anemia patients with celiac disease and without celiac disease, duodenal biopsy results did not show significant relationship between the severity of pathological changes and levels of anti-tTG IgG (P -value: 0/869) but significant relationship was discovered between pathological changes and levels of anti-tTG IgA (P -value: 0/004). Conclusion - Screening of celiac disease by anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody should be completed as a routine investigation in patients with iron-deficiency anemia. Also physicians must consider celiac disease as a possible reason of anemia in all patients with iron deficiency anemia.

Contexto - A doença celíaca é uma enteropatia imunomediada, devido a uma sensibilidade permanente ao glúten em pessoas geneticamente suscetíveis. A anemia por deficiência de ferro é a anemia mais frequente em seres humanos e, além disso, é uma manifestação extra intestinal comum da doença celíaca. Objetivo - Investigar a correlação entre níveis de imunoglobulina de anticorpos anti-transglutaminase tissular A (anti-tTG IgA) e G (IgG anti-tTG) e alterações histológicas e, em seguida, determinar a prevalência de doença celíaca no Centro e Sul do Irã em pacientes com anemia por deficiência de ferro. Métodos - Foram incluídos neste estudo um total de 402 pacientes com idades entre 12-78 anos, que apresentavam anemia por deficiência de ferro. Hemoglobina, volume corpuscular médio e ferritina sérica foram determinados. Amostras de sangue venoso para imunoglobulina de anti-tTG IgA e IgG anti-tTG foram obtidas nestes pacientes. Endoscopia gastrointestinal foi recomendada para pacientes que tiveram sorologia positiva. Resultados - Dos 402 pacientes com anemia por deficiência de ferro, 42 (10,4%) tiveram sorologia positiva para doença celíaca. A biópsia do intestino delgado de todos os pacientes com sorologia positiva mostrou alterações patológicas (Marsh I, II e III). Não houve diferença significativa no nível de hemoglobina média entre os pacientes com deficiência de ferro com ou sem a doença celíaca. O resultado da biopsia duodenal não mostrou relação significativa entre a gravidade das alterações patológicas e níveis de IgG anti-tTG (P -valor: 0/869), mas descobriu-se relação significativa entre as alterações patológicas e níveis de anti-tTG IgA (P -valor: 0/004). Conclusão - A pesquisa de doença celíaca por dosagem de anticorpo anti-transglutaminase tissular deve ser completada como investigação de rotina em pacientes com anemia por deficiência de ferro. Os clínicos devem considerar a doença celíaca como um possível causa de anemia em todos os pacientes com anemia ferropriva.

THE PREVALENCE OF CELIAC DISEASE IN PATIENTS WITH IRON-DEFICIENCY ANEMIA IN CENTER AND SOUTH AREA OF IRAN.

BACKGROUND: Celiac disease is an immune-mediated enteropathy due to a permanent sensitivity to gluten in genetically susceptible people. Iron-deficiency anemia is the most widely experienced anemia in humans. Iron-deficiency anemia additionally is a common extra intestinal manifestation of celiac disease. OBJECTIVE: To investigate correlation between tTg levels and histological alterations and then to determine the prevalence of celiac disease in Center and South area patients of Iran with iron deficiency anemia. METHODS: A total of 402 patients aged 12-78 years who presented with iron-deficiency anemia were included in this study. Hemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume and serum ferritin were determined. Venous blood samples for anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody immunoglobuline A and G were obtained from these patients. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was recommended to patients who had positive serology. RESULTS: Of 402 patients with iron-deficiency anemia, 42 (10.4%) had positive serology for celiac disease. The small intestine biopsy of all patients with positive serology showed pathological changes (Marsh I, II & III). There was not significant difference in the mean hemoglobin level between iron-deficiency anemia patients with celiac disease and without celiac disease, duodenal biopsy results did not show significant relationship between the severity of pathological changes and levels of anti-tTG IgG (P -value: 0/869) but significant relationship was discovered between pathological changes and levels of anti-tTG IgA (P -value: 0/004). CONCLUSION: Screening of celiac disease by anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody should be completed as a routine investigation in patients with iron-deficiency anemia. Also physicians must consider celiac disease as a possible reason of anemia in all patients with iron deficiency anemia.