Evaluating the Frequency and Cause of Persistent Symptoms in Pediatric Patients with Celiac Disease Adhering to a Long-Term Gluten-Free Diet

 Celiac disease (CD) treatment is based on life-long adherence to a gluten-free diet (GFD). Some patients with CD experience persistent symptoms despite adhering to a GFD. This condition is defined as a nonresponsive CD.

 The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence and cause of persistent symptoms in pediatric patients with CD adhering to a GFD in Sistan and Baluchestan province, southeastern Iran.

 This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 112 patients with CD selected from all diagnosed CD patients receiving a GFD for 6 months and newly diagnosed cases studied within one year. Gastrointestinal (GI) and extraintestinal (EI) symptoms were recorded on a questionnaire at the onset and during treatment. Data were analyzed by SPSS16 software, independent t-test, univariate t-test, and analysis of variance (ANOVA).

 A total of 46.43% of our sample were boys, and 53.57% were girls (mean age = 82 ± 4.43 months). Abdominal pain and constipation symptoms were reported more frequently at the time of diagnosis and following one year of treatment. The most commonly observed EI symptoms at the time of diagnosis and during treatment were weight loss and growth failure, respectively. The percentage of treatment non-response in patients with a positive family history was significantly greater than in those with a negative family history.

 The results showed that GFD had a significant effect on the reduction of GI and non-GI symptoms, but the effect of this regime on insignificant symptoms, particularly at older ages, is negligible.