INVESTIGATING THE PREVALENCE OF AUTOIMMUNE THYROID DISEASES IN CHILDREN WITH CELIAC DISEASE IN URMIA CITY, IRAN

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder involving the small intestine caused by gluten consumption. In addition to the complications caused by the involvement of the digestive system, many autoimmune complications, especially autoimmune thyroid diseases, are also common in these patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of autoimmune thyroid diseases in celiac children of Urmia for the optimal management of their treatment.

In this cross-sectional study, venous blood samples were taken from children living in Urmia whose celiac disease was previously confirmed. Anti-transglutaminase test (anti-tTG-) to confirm the diagnosis, Antithyroid Peroxidase antibody (anti-TPO) and Antithyroglobulin Antibody (anti-TG) tests to screen for autoimmune thyroid disease, and Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) test was performed to check thyroid function, all by ELISA method. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square test.

Seventy-seven patients with an average age of 11.84 participated in the study; 30 of them were male and 47 were female. Anti-TPO test was positive in 3.9% and Anti-TG test was positive in 11.7% of the patients, all of whom were female. The difference in both genders regarding Anti-TG was statistically significant (p=0.023). In most of the patients who had positive Anti-TPO, the Anti-TG test was also positive, and a significant positive correlation was seen between these two tests (R=0.82). In 26% of the patients, hypothyroidism and in 1.3% of them, hyperthyroidism was seen. Hypothyroidism was seen in celiac patients in whom Anti-TPO was positive, 66.7% and in those who Anti-TG was positive, hypothyroidism was seen in 45.5%, which were not statistically significant (p=0.12).

The results of this study showed that thyroid autoimmune diseases are high in celiac children, especially in females. Therefore, regular examination of thyroid function and monitoring autoantibodies in celiac patients seems necessary for optimal management of both conditions.