1. Is the clinical pattern of pediatric celiac disease changing? A thirty-years real-life experience of an Italian center
- Author
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Melissa Pedretti, Francesca Sbravati, Davide Allegri, Flavio Labriola, Virginia Lombardo, Enzo Spisni, Chiara Zarbo, Patrizia Alvisi, Pedretti, Melissa, Sbravati, Francesca, Allegri, Davide, Labriola, Flavio, Lombardo, Virginia, Spisni, Enzo, Zarbo, Chiara, and Alvisi, Patrizia
- Subjects
Diarrhea ,Male ,Adolescent ,Research ,Age Factors ,Anemia ,Age at diagnosi ,Pediatrics ,Age at diagnosis ,RJ1-570 ,Abdominal Pain ,Failure to Thrive ,Celiac Disease ,Italy ,Child, Preschool ,Pediatric celiac disease ,Clinical trend over time ,Humans ,Female ,Clinical pattern ,Child ,Constipation ,Retrospective Studies - Abstract
Objectives Clinical presentation of pediatric celiac disease (CD) is heterogeneous and ever-evolving. Our aim is to highlight its changes throughout the years. Methods Data about clinical presentation of CD in children diagnosed between 1990 and 2020 at the CD Center of Maggiore Hospital, Bologna, were collected. Patients were stratified into groups based on the date [P1 (1990–2011), P2 (2012–2020)] and age [G1 ( Results 1081 children were selected. Mean age at diagnosis increases from 5.9 to 6.6 years from P1 to P2. Gastrointestinal Symptoms (GIs) are predominant, with a decline of diarrhea (47%VS30%) and an increase of constipation (4%VS19%) (p p = 0,001) is observed. Failure to Thrive (FTT) is stable throughout the years (p = 0.03), while screenings show a trend of increment (19%VS23%). GIs’ frequency decline from G1 to G4 (p = 0,001), with reduction of diarrhea (p p = 0,02). EIs are more frequent at older ages, FTT in younger patients. Conclusions Changes in clinical presentation of CD have occurred in the last 30 years. We observe a reduction of severe and classic gastroenterologic symptoms and a rise of atypical ones, together with a growth of serological screenings and higher age at diagnosis. Awareness about CD clinical trends is crucial for a proper approach and early diagnosis.
- Published
- 2021