Preliminary results from follow-up of a large-scale population survey of antibodies to gliadin, reticulin and endomysium.

UNLABELLED: Coeliac disease is often under-diagnosed, particularly in cases which are atypical or asymptomatic.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to comprehensively assess the prevalence and clinical profile of adult coeliac disease in our community.

METHODS

One-hundred-and-thirteen subjects from the most recent MONICA (multinational MONItoring of trends and determinants in CArdiovascular disease)1991/2 survey with positive serology were followed up 3 years after initial screening and assessed by means of (i) a clinical questionnaire, (ii) screening blood tests, and (iii) jejunal biopsy.

RESULTS

Forty-six subjects (21 male, mean age 51 years) have been followed up to date. Prior to follow-up, two of these subjects were diagnosed as having coeliac disease. Ten (3 male, mean age 51 years) of 44 subjects had enteropathy. Three of these 10 subjects were relatively asymptomatic, 3 had folate deficiency and 3 had iron deficiency. Thus 12 of the 1823 initially screened had enteropathy consistent with coeliac disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Coeliac disease is more prevalent than previous estimations and was found to be at least 1 in 152.