Research

Serological screening for celiac disease in schoolchildren in Jordan. Is height and weight affected when seropositive?

Mohamad K Nusier¹ , Hedda Konstanse Brodtkorb² , Siv Elisabeth Rein² , Ahmed Odeh¹ , Abdelrahman M Radaideh¹ and Helge Klungland²

¹  Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan

²  Department of Laboratory Medicine, Children's and Women's Health, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, N-7006 Trondheim, Norway

author email corresponding author email

Italian Journal of Pediatrics 2010, 36:16doi:10.1186/1824-7288-36-16

Published:	9 February 2010

Abstract

Background

Celiac disease (CD) emerged as a public health problem, and the disease prevalence varies among different races. The present study was designed to investigate the prevalence of CD using serological markers in apparently healthy schoolchildren in Irbid City, Jordan. Additionally, the effect of positive serology on height, weight and body mass index (BMI) was evaluated.

Methods

The study population consisted of 1985 children (1117 girls and 868 boys), age range was 5.5 to 9.5 years. Height and weight were measured and blood samples were collected from each individual. Serum samples were analyzed for IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTG) using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). tTG positive samples were further analyzed for IgA anti-endomysium antibodies (EmA) with a commercial ELISA. Samples confirmed positive with EmA were considered seropositive.

Results

Sixteen children were CD positive. The serological prevalence was estimated to be 1:124 (0.8%; 95% CI, 0.5% to 1.3%). Significant impact on growth (height) was found in seropositive children. When both sexes were individually analyzed, only boys showed height reduction. Furthermore, seropositive boys also had a significant weight reduction.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that CD is prevalent among schoolchildren in Jordan. The seropositive children tend to have lower height, weight, and BMI than the seronegative group. These differences were significant only for boys. None of the participants is known to have CD prior to the study.