Epidemiology and clinical presentations of celiac disease

• Published in: Seminars in immunopathology Vol. 34; no. 4; pp. 473 - 478
• Main Authors: Reilly, Norelle Rizkalla, Green, Peter H. R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01-07-2012; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abdomen; Anemia; Antibodies; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Biopsy; Celiac disease; Celiac Disease - diagnosis; Celiac Disease - epidemiology; Children; Comorbidity; Diarrhea; Endoscopy; Epidemiology; Failure to thrive; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; Immunology; Immunopathology; Internal Medicine; Malabsorption; Medical sciences; Osteoporosis; Other diseases. Semiology; Pain; Pediatrics; Review; Risk groups; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis; Serology; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Surgeons; New York; North Africa; United States > US; Europe; Germany; Finland; Down Syndrome; Celiac Disease; Turner Syndrome; Williams Syndrome; Alopecia Areata; Immunopathology; Symptomatology; Immunology; Intestinal malabsorption; Digestive diseases; Intestinal disease; Coeliac disease; Epidemiology
• ISSN: 1863-2297; 1863-2300
• DOI: 10.1007/s00281-012-0311-2

Evidence of the prevalence of celiac disease comes from serological screening studies. These have revealed that celiac disease is common, occurring in about 1 % of the population worldwide. There are some countries with higher prevalence rates such as Finland and others with lower rates, for example Germany. The disease is found in most continents and appears to be increasing. Most people with the disease are not currently diagnosed though women are diagnosed more frequently than men. The mode of presentation has changed both in children and adults with diarrhea and a malabsorption syndrome becoming less common. Abdominal pain and growth issues are major modes of presentation in children, while anemia, osteoporosis, and recognition at endoscopy performed for GERD are seen as modes of presentation in adults. Screening of at risk groups is a major mode of presentation for both adults and children.