Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Coeliac disease has higher prevalence in children with diabetes mellitus than in the general population, and can have significant impact on quality of life causing faltering growth, prolonged fatigue and recurrent abdominal pain.

Objective: To compare current practice in screening for coeliac disease in children with diabetes mellitus with recommended standards and to investigate the value of follow-up screening for coeliac disease in children previously diagnosed with diabetes mellitus.

Methods: One hundred and forty-six children under 19 years old who had been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus were retrospectively included. Results of coeliac screening at diagnosis (IgA Anti-TTG) and annual coeliac screening were analysed. Case notes of children who had positive results were analysed to see if symptoms were documented. Children with positive antibodies were referred to tertiary hospital and biopsy undertaken. Positive biopsy was taken as gold standard for diagnosis.

Results: In this retrospective study of 148 children diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, 7 were diagnosed with coeliac disease through screening, 6 of whom were on follow-up. 3 were symptomatic. We found the prevalence of coeliac disease to be 5%.

Conclusions: We recommend routine continued surveillance screening for coeliac disease after the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in children.