Ali H, Shahzad F, Zameer M, Aziz S.
Frequency of celiac disease in patients with β-thalassemia major reported at children hospital Lahore.
Biomedica Jan ;32(3):165-9.

Background and Objective: β-thalassemia is the most common blood disorder with an autosomal recessive pattern caused due to reduced synthesis of β globin chains. The objective of the study is to determine the frequency of celiac disease in patients with β-thalassemia major. Methods: The study was conducted at The Children’s Hospital and The Institute of Child Health, Lahore from July 2015 to December 2015. In this cross sectional study, the prevalence of celiac disease in children with β-thalassemia major was conducted in a period of 6 months. Patients were screened for celiac disease through ELISA technique by the detection of anti-tissue transglutaminase (anti-tTG) IgA and IgG antibodies. Results: A total of 83 patients with mean age ± SD 7.87 ± 3.82 were included in this study which showed 66.3% male and 33.7% females. A total of 9.6% (n = 8) patients showed positive results for (antitTG) IgA and IgG antibodies for celiac disease. Borderline cases were 6.0% (n = 5) and 84.3% (n = 70) patients showed negative results. Variables were quantified by descriptive analysis. Conclusion: Patients have multiple symptoms well foundedwith celiac disease. As the prevalence of celiac disease is high in patients with β-thalassemia major, so it would be justifiable to screen them for celiac disease.

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