Celiac Disease Is Common Among First-Degree Relatives of Individuals With the Disease
Celiac disease is common among first-degree relatives of individuals with celiac disease, even if the relatives are asymptomatic, according to findings from a new study.1
“Gastroenterologists and general practitioners should ask about any family history of celiac disease among their patients’ parents, siblings and children. And if they’re present during the clinic visit, they should offer screening,” said Imad Absah, MD, a pediatric gastroenterologist at the Mayo Clinic, and the study’s lead author, in a press release.2
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To reach this conclusion, Absah and colleagues retrospectively evaluated data on 104 individuals with celiac disease and their first-degree relatives from Mayo Clinic electronic health records and celiac disease registry from December 20, 1983, to May 22, 2017.
A total 477 first-degree relatives were identified. Of these, 360 relatives underwent screening for celiac disease. Overall, 160 (44.4%) relatives were diagnosed with celiac disease; all had positive antitissue transglutaminase (anti-TTG) titers.
Among 148 relatives with a diagnosis of celiac disease with clinical features, 66% had nonclassic symptoms and 28% had no reported symptoms of celiac disease.
The researchers also found an association between high anti-TTG titers and villous atrophy, regardless of symptoms, among the first-degree relatives with a celiac disease diagnosis.
“A level of anti-TTG greater than or equal to 2.75 of the upper limit of normal identified first-degree relatives with villous atrophy with 87% sensitivity, 82% specificity, and a positive predictive value of 95%,” the study authors wrote.
Histologic findings among the individuals with celiac disease and their first-degree relatives were similar.
—Colleen Murphy
References:
1. Nellikkal SS, Hafed Y, Larson JJ, Murray JA, Absah I. High prevalence of celiac disease among screened first-degree relatives [published online August 22, 2019]. Mayo Clin Proc. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2019.03.027.
2. Mayo Clinic study calls for screening of family members of celiac disease patients [press release]. Rochester, MN: Mayo Clinic; August 22, 2019. https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-study-calls-for-screening-of-family-members-of-celiac-disease-patients/. Accessed August 22, 2019.