“When is Celiac Disease Celiac Disease?”

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A recent study (R Auricchio et al. Gastroenterol 2019; 157: 413-20, and editorial PR Green S Guandalini, pg 293-4) provides insight into the topic of “potential celiac disease.”

It is difficult trying to explain the concept of potential celiac disease (CD) to families.  Potential CD refers to the situation of having positive celiac serology but normal duodenal mucosa. In this study, the authors prospectively followed 280 children (age 2-18 yrs) with 2 consecutive abnormal serological tests (anit-TG2, EMA) along with normal duodenal architecture who continued a diet containing gluten.

Key findings:

  • 42 (15%) developed villous atrophy at median followup of 60 months
  • 89 (32%) became serologically-negative for CD
  • Cumulative incidence of progression to villous atrophy was 43% at 12 years.
  • The strongest predictive factor for villous atrophy was age: 7% of children less than 3 years developed flat mucosa, compared with 51% for age 3-10 and 55% for those older than 10 years

Advice on potential CD from editorial –titled “When is Celiac Disease Celiac Disease?”

  • Review the biopsies: were there adequate biopsy specimens? ≥4 from descending duodenum and ≥1 from duodenal bulb
  • Have a second specialist pathologist review specimens
  • If a patient with potential CD is symptomatic, institute a gluten-free diet and then follow for clinical and serologic response
  • If asymptomatic, “a wait and see approach is appropriate with interval biopsies every 2 years, if the elevated antibodies persist”

The editorial also note that none of the patients in this cohort would have been mislabeled with a diagnosis of CD using the non-biopsy approach as none of them had tTG antibodies >10 times the upper level of normal.

My take: This useful study should help with counseling parents about the likelihood of developing celiac disease in those with the “potential” label.  Younger children (<3 yrs), compared to older children, are less likely to convert from potential celiac disease to actual celiac disease..

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