Published online Sep 26, 2020. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v8.i18.4151
Peer-review started: February 27, 2020
First decision: April 8, 2020
Revised: May 16, 2020
Accepted: August 25, 2020
Article in press: August 25, 2020
Published online: September 26, 2020
Processing time: 207 Days and 22.2 Hours
Celiac disease (CD) is a systemic, chronic immune-mediated disease triggered by gluten ingestion in genetically-susceptible individuals, with a prevalence of 1% worldwide. Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is also a systemic autoimmune disease, mainly characterized by ocular and oral sicca symptoms and signs. Sharing a common genetic background, CD and SS are known associated autoimmune diseases, but currently available guidelines are not reporting it.
We report the case of a 39-year-old woman, who was in the care of her rheumatologist for 2 years with SS. On routine follow-up she was found to have iron deficiency, without anemia. She had no gastrointestinal complaints and denied any obvious source of blood loss. IgA tissue transglutaminase antibodies were positive and endoscopy with duodenal biopsies revealed crypt hyperplasia and villous atrophy. A diagnosis of CD was set and gluten-free diet was recommended.
We present a review of existing data in the literature regarding the association of the two diseases, summarizing prevalence studies of CD in SS patients and the other way around. Screening recommendations and future research perspectives are also discussed, highlighting clinically relevant unanswered questions with respect to the association of CD with SS.
Core Tip: Celiac disease (CD) and Sjögren's syndrome (SS) are associated autoimmune diseases, sharing a common genetic background. Although there is some evidence supporting the association of the two diseases, currently available guidelines are not sufficiently reporting it. We herein report a case of a patient with SS who was diagnosed with CD and summarize existing data in the literature regarding the association of the two diseases and discuss future research topics that remain to be answered with regard to this association. To the best of our knowledge this is the first literature review regarding these two pathologies concomitance.