Retrospective Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2015. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Pediatr. Nov 8, 2015; 4(4): 148-154
Published online Nov 8, 2015. doi: 10.5409/wjcp.v4.i4.148
Coeliac disease in children in Christchurch, New Zealand: Presentation and patterns from 2000-2010
Adeline Kho, Martin Whitehead, Andrew S Day
Adeline Kho, Andrew S Day, Department of Paediatrics, University of Otago, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
Martin Whitehead, Department of Pathology, University of Otago, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
Author contributions: All the authors equally contributed to this work.
Institutional review board statement: This conduct of this retrospective study was approved by the Upper South A Regional Ethics Committee, New Zealand (URA/11/EXP/044).
Informed consent statement: Given the nature of the study (retrospective review of patient charts, with no direct patient contact), specific informed consent was not required (as per the approval of the Regional Ethics Committee).
Conflict-of-interest statement: None of the authors have any conflicts of interest to declare relevant to this study.
Data sharing statement: Not applicable.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Correspondence to: Andrew S Day, Professor, Department of Paediatrics, University of Otago, Riccarton Avenue, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand. andrew.day@otago.ac.nz
Telephone: +64-3-3640747 Fax: +64-3-3640919
Received: January 6, 2015
Peer-review started: January 7, 2015
First decision: April 27, 2015
Revised: May 16, 2015
Accepted: September 10, 2015
Article in press: September 16, 2015
Published online: November 8, 2015
Processing time: 307 Days and 20.2 Hours
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the presentation patterns of a cohort of children diagnosed with coeliac disease (CD) at Christchurch Hospital, New Zealand.

METHODS: Children aged 16 years or less diagnosed with CD at Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand, over the 11 year period between 2000 and 2010 were identified retrospectively. Diagnosis of CD was based upon standard histological criteria of endoscopically-obtained duodenal biopsies. Overlapping search methods were used to identify all relevant diagnoses within the time period. Endoscopy reports and histology findings were reviewed to confirm diagnosis. The numbers of diagnoses per year were calculated and changes in annual rates over the study period were delineated. Available records were reviewed to ascertain presenting symptoms, baseline anthropometry and the indication for referral for each child. In addition, the results of relevant investigations prior to diagnosis were accessed and reviewed. These key investigations included the results of coeliac serology testing (including tissue transglutaminase and endomysial antibodies) as well as the results of tests measuring levels of micronutrients, such as iron. In addition, the histological findings of concurrent biopsies in the oesophagus and stomach were reviewed.

RESULTS: Over the 11 year study period, 263 children were diagnosed with CD at this New Zealand paediatric facility. Children were diagnosed from late infancy to 16.9 years: the largest subgroup of children (n = 111) were diagnosed between 5 and 12 years of age. The numbers of children diagnosed each year increased from 13 per year to 31 per year over the 11 years (P = 0.0095). Preschool children (aged less than 5 years) were more likely to have low weight, and to have diarrhoea and abdominal pain prior to diagnosis. Older children (over 5 years of age) most commonly presented with abdominal pain. Fifty-six (21.6%) of the 263 children were diagnosed following screening in high risk groups, with 38 of these children having no symptoms at diagnosis. Mean weight Z scores were lower in children aged less than five years than children aged 5-12 years or older children (-0.4096 ± 1.24, vs 0.1196 ± 0.966 vs 0.0901 ± 1.14 respectively: P = 0.0033).

CONCLUSION: Increasing numbers of children were diagnosed with CD in this New Zealand centre over this time, with varied presentations and symptoms.

Keywords: Coeliac disease; Children; Screening; Small bowel biopsy; Antibodies

Core tip: Coeliac disease (CD) is increasingly diagnosed throughout childhood. Physicians must be aware of the varied presentations of CD in children and consider this diagnosis accordingly.