Relation between celiac disease and idiopathic short stature among groups of children

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Nutrition and Food Sciences Dept., Faculty of Home Economics. Helwan Univ., Cairo, Egypt

2 Home Economic Dept., Faculty of Specific Education, Ain Shams Univ., Cairo, Egypt

3 National Nutrition Institute

Abstract

Celiac disease is a chronic autoimmune condition triggered by gluten in genetically susceptible individuals, affecting about 0.7% of the global population. It is a frequent disorder among Egyptian children and can present with a range of symptoms from gastrointestinal to extra-intestinal manifestations. Many cases remain undiagnosed due to atypical or silent presentations, posing risks of serious complications. Short stature is a common non-classical symptom in children, found in about one-third of new pediatric cases, and typically resolves with a strict gluten-free diet. The detection of celiac disease in Egyptian children with unexplained short stature can be achieved by estimating serum levels of total IgA and tissue transglutaminase IgA antibodies (TTG-IgA-Abs). This approach helps assess the impact of gastrointestinal diseases, particularly Celiac disease, on children’s height and body mass, in comparison to short children without Celiac disease. The study involved 100 children with idiopathic short stature (ISS), comprising 42 girls and 58 boys, aged 5.5–14.5 years (mean ± SD: 10.37±3.28 years). These children attended the short stature pediatric outpatient clinic at the National Nutrition Institute, General Authority for Institutes and Hospitals in Al-Qasr Al-Aini, Giza, Cairo, between April 2022 and April 2024. The study found that 32% of the cases were positive for TTG IgA antibodies and with normal total IgA levels, while 68% were non-celiac patients. Applying the same criteria to 100 patients, there was a statistically significant difference (p<0.001) between the Celiac and Non-Celiac groups in terms of weight and height with a gluten-free diet.

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