Enfermedad celíaca en una población pediátrica de riesgo nutricional del área operativa noreste de San Miguel de Tucumán

Abstract

Celiac disease is an autoimmune systemic disorder linked to gluten, characterized by a variable combination of clinical features, specific antibodies, HLA- haplotypes DQ2/DQ8 and enteropathy. In addition, the malabsorption caused by enteropathy may cause nutritional risk. Celiac disease prevalence in the general pediatric population in Argentina in 2010 was estimated at 1.26%. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of antibodies associated with celiac disease in a pediatric population of nutritional risk from the Northeast of San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina. In 2011, 408 out of 4,538 children between 2 and 10 years of age were under nutritional risk. A total of 175 children who met two of three of the following inclusion criteria: underweight, diarrhea and abdominal distention, were selected. In the 160 children that participated in the study, IgA immune competence was determined by radial immunodiffusion and anti-tissue transglutaminase - IgA by ELISA, as specific markers for celiac disease. Seropositive endomysial IgA isotype was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence. Five children were found positive for CD, and the prevalence was estimated at 3%. In the population studied, seropositivity was significantly higher than that reported in the general pediatric population. At primary care level, it is necessary to look for celiac disease as a cause of nutritional risk by implementing the proposed flowchart of procedures. This will allow improving the quality of life of children by means of a timely and effective treatment.