Celiac.com 03/28/2026 - Celiac disease is an immune condition triggered by gluten that damages the lining of the small intestine. In children, it can present with digestive symptoms such as diarrhea or poor weight gain, but it can also appear with symptoms outside the digestive system. One of the most important of these is iron deficiency anemia.

Iron deficiency anemia occurs when the body does not have enough iron to make healthy red blood cells. In celiac disease, this can happen because the upper part of the small intestine, where iron is absorbed, becomes inflamed and damaged. In some children, anemia may be the first or only noticeable sign of celiac disease.

Although anemia in children with celiac disease has been studied in other countries, there has been limited data from southern Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to fill that gap.

How the Study Was Conducted

The researchers reviewed medical records of children and adolescents between one and eighteen years of age who were diagnosed with celiac disease between 2016 and 2023 at the Armed Forces Hospital Southern Region. All diagnoses followed established pediatric guidelines used at the time, either through intestinal biopsy or blood testing.

To be included, children needed to have blood test results at diagnosis and follow-up blood tests at one and two years after starting a gluten-free diet. Children with other known causes of anemia were excluded, ensuring that the focus remained on anemia related to celiac disease.

The main goal was to determine how many children had iron deficiency anemia at the time of diagnosis. The researchers also wanted to see how many children still had anemia one and two years later and whether factors such as age, sex, growth problems, or treatment details affected outcomes.

Who Was Included in the Study

A total of ninety-seven children with confirmed celiac disease were included. About sixty percent were girls. Most children were diagnosed between six and ten years of age, followed by those aged eleven to fourteen. Only a small number were diagnosed before age five or after age fifteen.

Many children did not present with classic digestive symptoms. Some were diagnosed through screening, particularly those with other conditions such as type one diabetes. Others had short stature or poor weight gain. A notable portion had no symptoms at the time of diagnosis.

This reflects the evolving understanding of celiac disease, which increasingly includes children with non-traditional or silent presentations.

How Common Was Iron Deficiency Anemia?

The study found that approximately one in four children, or 25.8 percent, had iron deficiency anemia at the time they were diagnosed with celiac disease. This rate falls within the range reported in international pediatric studies.

However, the researchers noted an important context: iron deficiency is also common in the general pediatric population in Saudi Arabia. This means that not every case of anemia in children with celiac disease can automatically be blamed on intestinal damage from gluten. Some cases may reflect broader nutritional factors.

When the researchers looked for patterns, they found that anemia was slightly more common in children diagnosed between six and ten years of age. However, age, sex, short stature, poor weight gain, and syndromic conditions were not statistically linked to a higher risk of anemia. In other words, no specific demographic or clinical profile reliably predicted which child would have anemia at diagnosis.

What Happened After Starting a Gluten-Free Diet?

The gluten-free diet is the primary treatment for celiac disease. By removing gluten, inflammation in the small intestine gradually improves, allowing nutrients such as iron to be absorbed more effectively.

Among the twenty-five children who had anemia at diagnosis, follow-up data were available for all at one and two years. After one year on a gluten-free diet, anemia had resolved in about sixty-eight percent of affected children. By two years, recovery increased to eighty-eight percent.

This gradual improvement supports the idea that intestinal healing plays a major role in correcting iron deficiency in many children. As the intestinal lining recovers, iron absorption improves, and hemoglobin levels rise.

Still, a small group of children continued to have anemia even after two years. This highlights that recovery is not always immediate or complete. Persistent anemia may be related to ongoing inflammation, accidental gluten exposure, or additional nutrient deficiencies.

Role of Iron Supplements

Not all children with anemia received iron supplements. When supplementation was used, it was given orally, most often once daily for about three months using standard pediatric weight-based dosing.

The study did not find a clear link between the type or duration of iron therapy and whether anemia persisted. This suggests that, for many children, the gluten-free diet alone may be sufficient to correct anemia over time. However, supplements remain important in children with more severe or symptomatic anemia.

What the Study Did Not Find

One of the most interesting findings was what the researchers did not discover. No demographic, clinical, or treatment-related factor was clearly associated with either the presence of anemia at diagnosis or its persistence after one year.

This underscores the unpredictable nature of iron deficiency in children with celiac disease. It also suggests that clinicians cannot rely on symptoms or growth patterns alone to determine who might be anemic.

Strengths and Limitations

The study’s strengths include its clearly defined pediatric group and consistent follow-up over two years. All children with anemia had complete follow-up data, which strengthens confidence in the recovery findings.

However, the study was retrospective, meaning it relied on existing medical records. The sample size was modest, which may limit the ability to detect subtle risk factors. Additionally, not all children had detailed information about intestinal damage severity or iron metabolism markers.

Why This Study Matters for Families Affected by Celiac Disease

For families navigating a new diagnosis of celiac disease, anemia can be an alarming complication. This study provides reassuring news: although iron deficiency anemia is relatively common at diagnosis, most children improve significantly after starting a gluten-free diet.

It also reinforces several practical lessons. First, children diagnosed with celiac disease should be routinely screened for anemia, even if they have no digestive complaints. Second, blood tests should continue during follow-up, particularly in the first two years. Finally, if anemia persists, further evaluation may be needed to check dietary adherence, hidden gluten exposure, or other nutrient deficiencies.

Ultimately, this research highlights that iron deficiency anemia is an important but often treatable aspect of pediatric celiac disease. With early diagnosis, careful monitoring, and consistent adherence to a gluten-free diet, most children can achieve both intestinal healing and normal blood counts, supporting healthy growth and development over time.

Read more at: cureus.com

Celiac.com 04/14/2025 - Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. The primary treatment for celiac disease is a strict gluten-free diet, which helps heal the damaged small intestine and alleviates symptoms. However, some patients continue to experience health issues, such as anemia, even after adopting a gluten-free diet. This study explores why anemia persists in some individuals with celiac disease and how the timing of diagnosis and dietary adherence play a role.

The Link Between Celiac Disease and Anemia

Anemia, particularly iron deficiency anemia, is a common symptom of celiac disease. This occurs because the damaged small intestine cannot properly absorb nutrients, including iron, folate, and vitamin B12, which are essential for producing healthy red blood cells. While a gluten-free diet often resolves these issues, some patients continue to struggle with anemia despite following the diet for years.

This study aimed to:

1. Determine the prevalence of anemia in patients with celiac disease at the time of diagnosis.
2. Evaluate whether anemia improves after starting a gluten-free diet.
3. Identify factors that contribute to persistent anemia in these patients.

How the Study Was Conducted

Researchers analyzed medical records of 311 patients with celiac disease, including 184 adults and 127 children, from the University Hospital of L’Aquila in Italy. Data were collected at three time points:

• At diagnosis (T0).
• After 3 to 5 years on a gluten-free diet (T1).
• After 8 to 10 years on a gluten-free diet (T2).

The study focused on hemoglobin levels, iron, folate, and vitamin B12 levels, as well as other factors like age, gender, and the severity of intestinal damage at diagnosis. Patients with conditions that could independently cause anemia, such as chronic kidney disease or inflammatory bowel disease, were excluded from the study.

Key Findings

1. Anemia at Diagnosis

At the time of diagnosis, 24% of adults and 5.6% of children with celiac disease had anemia. Adult women were more likely to be anemic, likely due to factors like menstruation. In children, anemia was more common in younger patients, possibly because they had more severe intestinal damage at diagnosis, leading to greater nutrient malabsorption.

2. Anemia After Starting a Gluten-Free Diet

After 3 to 5 years on a gluten-free diet, there was no significant improvement in anemia rates for either adults or children. However, after 8 to 10 years, a notable reduction in anemia was observed in adults, with the prevalence dropping from 24% to 17.8%. In children, the prevalence of anemia remained low at 4.4%.

3. Factors Contributing to Persistent Anemia

The study identified several factors that may explain why some patients continue to experience anemia despite following a gluten-free diet:

• Delayed Diagnosis: Adults often experience a longer delay in receiving a celiac disease diagnosis compared to children. This prolonged exposure to gluten can cause more severe intestinal damage, making it harder to fully recover.
• Ultrastructural Damage: Even after the visible healing of the intestinal lining, microscopic damage to the cells responsible for nutrient absorption may persist. This could impair the body’s ability to absorb iron and other nutrients effectively.
• Dietary Adherence: While all patients in the study were advised to follow a gluten-free diet, the researchers did not have detailed data on how strictly each patient adhered to the diet.

Why These Findings Matter for People with Celiac Disease

This study highlights the importance of early diagnosis and strict adherence to a gluten-free diet for individuals with celiac disease. The longer the delay in diagnosis, the greater the risk of persistent health issues like anemia. For adults, who often face longer diagnostic delays, this can mean a slower recovery and a higher likelihood of ongoing symptoms.

The findings also underscore the need for ongoing monitoring and support for patients with celiac disease. Even after starting a gluten-free diet, some individuals may require additional interventions, such as iron supplements or further medical evaluation, to address persistent anemia.

Limitations of the Study

While the study provides valuable insights, it has some limitations:

• The retrospective design means that some data, such as dietary adherence and additional health conditions, were not consistently available.
• The study population was limited to patients from a single hospital in Italy, so the results may not apply to all populations.
• The researchers did not have detailed information on the types of iron supplements or other treatments patients may have used.

Conclusion

This study reveals that anemia is a persistent issue for some individuals with celiac disease, even after years on a gluten-free diet. Early diagnosis and strict dietary adherence are crucial for improving outcomes, but additional factors, such as microscopic intestinal damage, may also play a role.

For those living with celiac disease, these findings emphasize the importance of regular follow-up care and open communication with healthcare providers. By addressing persistent anemia and other ongoing symptoms, patients can work toward better long-term health and quality of life.

Read more at: bmcgastroenterol.biomedcentral.com

Celiac.com 09/04/2024 - Researchers conducted a retrospective, observational cohort study with the aim of determining whether iron deficiency at the time of celiac disease diagnosis affects the tissue transglutaminase antibody (TTG) normalization rate among pediatric patients on a gluten-free diet. Celiac disease is an immune-mediated disorder triggered by gluten consumption in genetically predisposed individuals, often diagnosed using specific serological tests. A gluten-free diet is the only effective treatment, and the study investigates whether iron deficiency affects the rate of antibody normalization in pediatric patients adhering to this diet.

Methods

The researchers conducted a retrospective, observational cohort study involving children aged 2-18 years diagnosed with celiac disease between January 2016 and December 2020. Data on demographics, hemoglobin, ferritin, and antibody levels were collected at diagnosis and one year after starting a gluten-free diet. Iron deficiency was defined by specific hemoglobin and ferritin levels. The primary focus was to compare tissue transglutaminase antibody normalization rates between children with and without iron deficiency at diagnosis.

Results

The study included 118 pediatric patients. At diagnosis, 51.7% had iron deficiency, with a higher prevalence among females in the non-iron deficient group. The median age at diagnosis was slightly lower for those with iron deficiency. After one year on a gluten-free diet, 65.5% of children with iron deficiency achieved antibody normalization, compared to 53.8% of those without iron deficiency, though this difference was not statistically significant. Notably, male children had a significantly higher rate of antibody normalization than females.

Discussion

The study's findings indicate that iron deficiency at the time of celiac disease diagnosis does not significantly impact the rate of antibody normalization after one year on a gluten-free diet. However, male children showed a higher likelihood of achieving normalization compared to females. This gender disparity suggests that other factors might influence antibody normalization rates, warranting further research. The study's results align with previous research showing no significant difference in serological response between children with and without anemia at diagnosis.

Conclusion

The study concludes that iron deficiency at diagnosis does not hinder tissue transglutaminase antibody normalization in pediatric celiac disease patients adhering to a gluten-free diet. The observed higher normalization rates among males suggest that gender-specific factors may influence the immune response to a gluten-free diet. Future research should focus on understanding these factors and their implications for managing celiac disease in children.

Significance for Celiac Disease Patients

For individuals with celiac disease, this study provides valuable insights into the role of iron deficiency in disease management. It reassures parents and healthcare providers that iron deficiency at diagnosis does not delay antibody normalization, highlighting the importance of maintaining a gluten-free diet. Additionally, the gender-specific findings may guide personalized treatment approaches, improving outcomes for children with celiac disease. This study underscores the need for ongoing research to optimize care for pediatric celiac disease patients.

Read more at: cureus.com

Celiac.com 09/30/2021 - Anemia is common in children with celiac disease, but the details of how the disease develops in the gut remain obscure. One possible explanation could be an abnormal expression of duodenal iron transport proteins. However, the results have so far been unclear. 

To get a better understanding of the issue, a team of researchers recently set out to compare immunohistochemical stainings of duodenal cytochrome B (DCYTB), divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1), ferroportin, hephaestin and transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) in duodenal biopsies between 27 children with celiac disease and duodenal atrophy, 10 celiac autoantibody-positive children with potential celiac disease and six autoantibody-negative control children. 

The team looked at data for forty-three subjects, twenty-three with anemia, and twenty without. For both groups, the team evaluated expressions of iron proteins with respect to saturation and amount of stained area or stained membrane length of the enterocytes. 

The team's results showed an increase in the stained area of ferroportin, and a decrease in the saturation of hephaestin, in celiac patients versus control subjects. 

Meanwhile, the team found no differences in the expression of transporter protein between anemic and non-anemic patients.

The present results indicate a change in ferroportin and hephaestin proteins in children with histologically confirmed celiac disease that is independent of iron status.

Being able to spot celiac disease in children using simple stain reactions could be helpful to improving early diagnosis of celiac disease.

Read more at mdpi.com.

The research team included Marleena Repo, Markus Hannula, Juha Taavela, Jari Hyttinen, Jorma Isola, Pauliina Hiltunen, Alina Popp, Katri Kaukinen, Kalle Kurppa, and Katri Lindfors, and Isabel Comino. They are variously affiliated with the Tampere Centre for Child Health Research, Tampere University and Tampere University Hospital in Tampere, Finland; the Celiac Disease Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland; the Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology and BioMediTech Institute, Tampere University in Tampere, Finland; the Central Finland Central Hospital in Jyväskylä, Finland; the Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University in Tampere, Finland; Jilab Inc., in Tampere, Finland; the National Institute for Mother and Child Health, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania; the Department of Internal Medicine, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland; and the Department of Pediatrics, Seinäjoki Central Hospital and University Consortium in Seinäjoki, Finland

Celiac.com 03/07/2018 - People with celiac disease can sometimes have hematological issues, including chronic anemia. It might be surprising to hear, but aplastic anemia and celiac disease share a similar underlying autoimmune process, but doctors haven't reported many cases that indicate that the two are connected. In fact, medical literature reveals only three pediatric cases indicating a connection. Recently, clinicians reported the first case in a female pediatric patient.

The clinical team included Omar Irfan, Sana Mahmood, Heera Nand, and Gaffar Billoo, with the Medical College and the Department of Pediatrics at Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. Their team treated a 6-year-old South Asian girl who had bruises, petechiae, and recent history of loose stools. On evaluation, the team diagnosed the girl to have celiac disease and prescribed a gluten-free diet. Follow-up assessment including bone marrow biopsy showed the girl to have pancytopenia.

The team managed the girl's condition with packed red cells, platelets, and diet restrictions, and the girl showed improving platelet counts over yearly follow up visits. Eventually, the girl will need a bone marrow transplant, and the team spoke about that to the girl's parents.

This is now the fourth report indicating a connection between celiac disease and aplastic anemia in children, and the clinical team wonders if the connection might be more common than is currently understood.

Timely treatment of celiac disease through strict gluten-free diet, or aplastic anemia through immunosuppressive therapy, could help reduce the development of other autoimmune conditions.

Because all four pediatric cases reporting potential celiac disease/aplastic anemia association occurred in South East Asia, the authors suggest larger studies to explore this connection.

Source:

• J Med Case Reports. 2018;12(16)

Celiac.com 10/17/2017 - Are primary care physicians under-testing for celiac disease in patients with iron deficiency anemia? A new survey of primary care doctors indicates that they are.

It's fairly common for people with celiac disease to develop iron deficiency anemia (IDA), but researchers don't know much about the frequency with which primary care physicians test for celiac disease in patients with IDA.

A team of researchers recently set out to describe how primary care doctors approach testing for celiac disease in asymptomatic patients with IDA.

The research team included Marisa Spencer, Adrienne Lenhart, Jason Baker, Joseph Dickens, Arlene Weissman, Andrew J. Read, Seema Saini, and Sameer D. Saini.

They are variously affiliated with the Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America; the Department of Internal Medicine, Henry Ford Health System, in Detroit, Michigan, United States of America; the Department of Statistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America; the Research Center at the American College of Physicians, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America, Ambulatory Care, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States of America.

For their study, the team began by electronically distributing a survey to primary care doctors who are members of the American College of Physicians. The survey asked whether doctors would test for celiac disease, either by serologic testing, referral for esophagogastroduodenoscopy [EGD], or referral to GI) in hypothetical patients with new IDA, including: (1) a young Caucasian man, (2) a premenopausal Caucasian woman, (3) an elderly Caucasian man, and (4) a young African American man.

The team chose the scenarios to assess differences in testing for celiac disease based on age, gender, and race. They used multivariable logistic regression to identify independent predictors of testing.

Testing for celiac disease varied significantly according to patient characteristics, with young Caucasian men being the most frequently tested (61% of respondents reporting they would perform serologic testing in this subgroup (p

Interestingly 80% of doctors surveyed said they would definitely or probably start a patient with positive serologies for celiac disease on a gluten-free diet prior to confirmatory upper endoscopy, which is contrary to guideline recommendations.

This survey indicates that primary care doctors are under-testing for celiac disease in patients with IDA, regardless of age, gender, race, or post-menopausal status. The majority of primary care doctors surveyed do not strictly adhere to established guidelines regarding a confirmatory duodenal biopsy in a patient with positive serology for celiac disease.

Clearly, even with all of the advances in celiac disease awareness and with more refined protocols, primary care doctors have some work to do when it comes to testing IDA patients for celiac disease, and even more work to do in following proper referral guidelines before putting patients on a gluten-free diet.

Source:

• PLOSONE

Celiac.com 06/09/2014 - Anemia is extremely common in patients with celiac disease. In some cases, anemia may be the sole manifestation of celiac disease, but there is no good data on rates of celiac disease in Indian patients with nutritional anemia. A research team recently examined rates of celiac disease among nutritional anemia patients at a care center in India. The team included A. Kavimandan, M. Sharma, A.K. Verma, P. Das, P. Mishra, S. Sinha, A. Mohan, V. Sreenivas, S. Datta Gupta, and G.K. Makharia.

For their study, the team conducted positive celiac disease screens on adolescent and adult patients presenting with nutritional anemia. They also prospectively screened for celiac disease using IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody (anti-tTG Ab). Subjects with positive antibody screens received upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and duodenal biopsy.

In all, the team screened ninety-six patients. Of these patients, 80 had iron deficiency anemia, 11 had megaloblastic anemia, and 5 had dimorphic anemia. Seventy-three patients were receiving hematinics and 36.4 % had received blood transfusions. Nineteen patients had histories of chronic diarrhea persisting for an average of about ten years. Of those, the team found 13 patients with positive IgA anti-tTG Ab screens, 12 of whom agreed to duodenal biopsy.

Ten patients showed villous atrophy (Marsh grade 3a in three, 3b in one, and 3c in six), while two patients showed no villous atrophy. In all, ten patients with nutritional anemia, defined as iron deficiency 9, vitamin B12 deficiency 1, were also diagnosed with celiac disease.

Multivariate logistic regression showed age, duration of symptoms, and presence of diarrhea to be the main predictors of celiac disease. The team put all patients with celiac disease on gluten-free diet, supplemented with iron and vitamin B. All patients showed significant improvement in hemoglobin concentration.

The team recommends celiac disease screening, and appropriate follow-up in all cases of unexplained nutritional anemia.

Source:

• Open Original Shared Link

Celiac.com 09/05/2013 - Current medical science describes diarrhea as a classical symptom of celiac disease, while anemia is described as an atypical or silent manifestation.

However, there was actually very little information that accurately compares the severity of celiac disease between patients who present with anemia against those who present with diarrhea.

A team of researchers recently set out to determine whether people with anemia have more severe celiac disease than people with diarrhea.

The research team included H.A. Daya, B. Lebwohl, S.K. Lewis, and P.H. Green. They are affiliated with the Celiac Disease Center, Department of Internal Medicine at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York.

For their study, the researchers selected a study group of 727 patients from a database of celiac disease patients evaluated at a tertiary referral center between 1990 and 2011. They used the degree of villous atrophy and clinical and serologic parameters to determine the severity of the celiac disease for each patient.

The team compared patients according to mode of presentation and sex. They also conducted age and sex-adjusted multivariable analyses to assess the association between the mode of celiac disease presentation and cholesterol level, bone density, severity of villous atrophy, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and level of anti-tissue transglutaminase (anti-tTG).

They found that just over three-quarters of the patients presented with diarrhea, while just under one-quarter presented with anemia; 92% of which was iron deficient anemia.

Multiple regression analysis showed that celiac disease with anemia was associated with lower levels of total cholesterol (P=.02) and high-density lipoprotein (P=.002), and a higher ESR (P=.001) and level of anti-tTG (P=.01).

In women only, celiac disease with anemia was associated with a lower level of cholesterol.

Anemic patients were more than twice as likely to have severe villous atrophy and a low bone mass density at time they were diagnosed with celiac disease than were patients who presented with diarrhea.

So, the results show that celiac disease patients who present with anemia have more severe disease than those who present with diarrhea. There also seem to be sex-specific differences with respect to the connection between anemia and the various features of celiac disease, such as cholesterol.

Source:

• Open Original Shared Link

07/29/2013 - Rates of celiac disease in Caucasian populations of European origin are pretty well documented, but little is known about its prevalence in non-Caucasians.

Also, data shows that celiac disease is one likely cause of iron-deficiency anemia, but little is known about how celiac disease might contribute to iron deficiency in Caucasians, and especially non-Caucasians.

A team of researchers recently looked at for links between celiac disease and iron deficiency in both caucasians and non-caucasians.

The study team included Joseph A. Murray, Stela McLachlan, Paul C. Adams, John H. Eckfeldt, Chad P. Garner, Chris D. Vulpe, Victor R. Gordeuk, Tricia Brantner, Catherine Leiendecker–Foster, Anthony A. Killeen, Ronald T. Acton, Lisa F. Barcellos, Debbie A. Nickerson, Kenneth B. Beckman, Gordon D. McLaren, and Christine E. McLaren.

To find individuals with iron deficiency and to determine celiac disease rates, the team assessed samples collected from participants in the Hemochromatosis and Iron Overload Screening study. They looked at blood samples from white men 25 years or older and women 50 years or older who participated in the Hemochromatosis and Iron Overload Screening study.

Individuals with serum ferritin levels ≤12 μg/L were group as iron deficient, while those with serum ferritin levels >100 μg/L in men and >50 μg/L in women served as a control group.

The team analyzed all samples for human recombinant tissue transglutaminase immunoglobulin A; positive results were confirmed by an assay for endomysial antibodies.

The team assessed patients with positive results from both celiac disease tests as having untreated celiac disease. They excluded from analysis all subjects with a positive result from only one of the two tests.

They analyzed HLA genotypes and frequencies of celiac disease between Caucasians and non-Caucasians with iron deficiency.

In all, the team found 14 cases of celiac disease among the 567 study subjects (2.5%), and just 1 case of celiac disease among the 1136 control subjects (0.1%; Fisher exact test, P = 1.92 × 10−6). The case of celiac disease in the control group was in a Caucasian control subject. There were no cases of celiac disease found in non-Caucasian controls.

All 14 of the cases of celiac disease found by the team were in the Caucasian group of 363 (4%). There were no cases of celiac disease in the non-Caucasian group of 204 cases (P = .003).

Overall, individuals with iron deficiency were 28-times more likely to have celiac disease (95% confidence interval, 3.7–212.8) than were healthy control subjects. Also, and interestingly, 13 of 14 cases with celiac disease carried the DQ2.5 variant of the HLA genotype.

This study shows that celiac disease is linked with iron deficiency in Caucasians. In fact, among Caucasians, celiac disease is rare among individuals without iron deficiency.

It also shows that celiac disease is rare among non-Caucasians—even among individuals with common features of celiac disease, such as iron deficiency.

The study team recommends that doctors conduct celiac screening on men and postmenopausal women with iron deficiency.

Source:

• Open Original Shared Link

What follows is a list I have compiled showing the various diseases that are found in increased frequency among people who have the DQ8 gene (DQB1*0302). I will show the reference number next to each, and the corresponding references will appear below:

• Celiac disease (1)
• Scleroderma (2)
• Rheumatoid arthritis (1)
• Autoimmune thyroiditis (3)
• Pemphigus (4)
• Lupus (6)
• Pemphigoid (5)
• Focal myositis (7)
• Multiple sclerosis (8)
• Myasthenia gravis (1)
• Insulin dependant latent autoimmune diabetes of adults and adult Type 1 diabetes (9)
• Type 1 juvenile diabetes (1)
• Sjogren’s syndrome (10)
• Addisons’s disease (11)
• Complex regional pain syndrome with dystonia (12)
• Latex allergy (13)
  

References:

1. Open Original Shared Link
2. Autoantibodies to fibrillarin in systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). An immunogenetic, serologic, and clinical analysis. Frank C. Arnett, MD, John D. Reveille, MDet al. See abstract at Open Original Shared Link.
3. A strong association between thyrotropin receptor-blocking antibody- positive atrophic autoimmune thyroiditis and HLA-DR8 and HLA-DQB1*0302 in Koreans. Cho, JH Chung, YK Shong, YB Chang, H Han, JB Lee, HK Lee and CS Koh. See abstract at Open Original Shared Link.
4. Association between HLA-DRB1, DQB1 genes and pemphigus vulgaris in Chinese HansBy Zhou SH, Lin L, Jin PY, Ye SZ. See abstract at: Open Original Shared Link.
5. Polymorphisms of HLA-DR and -DQ Genes in Japanese Patients with Bullous Pemphigoid. By Okazaki A, Miyagawa S, et al. See abstract at: Open Original Shared Link.
6. HLA-DRB1*03 and DQB1*0302 associations in a subset of patients severely affected with systemic lupus erythematosus from western India. By U Shankarkumar, K Ghosh, S S Badakere, D Mohanty. See abstract at: Open Original Shared Link.
7. HLA typing in focal myositis. By Kenji Sekiguchi, Fumio Kanda, Kenichi Oishi, Hirotoshi Hamaguchi, Kenichiro Nakazawa, Nobuya Maeda, Hiroyuki Ishihara and Kazuo Chihara. See abstract at: Open Original Shared Link.
8. HLA-DRB1*1501, -DQB1*0301, -DQB1*0302, -DQB1*0602, and -DQB1*0603 alleles are associated with more severe disease outcome on MRI in patients with multiple sclerosis. By Zivadinov Robert; Uxa Laura et al. See abstract at: Open Original Shared Link.
9. Similar Genetic Features and Different Islet Cell Autoantibody Pattern of Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA) Compared With Adult-Onset Type 1 Diabetes With Rapid ProgressionBy Nóra Hosszúfalusi, MD, PHD, Ágnes Vatay, MD1, et al. See abstract at Open Original Shared Link.
10. Specific amino acid residues in the second hypervariable region of HLA- DQA1 and DQB1 chain genes promote the Ro (SS-A)/La (SS- autoantibody responses. ByJD Reveille, MJ Macleod, K Whittington and FC Arnett. See abstract at Open Original Shared Link.
11. Analysis of extended human leukocyte antigen haplotype association with Addison’s disease in three populations. ByGombos, Hermann, et al. See study at: Open Original Shared Link.
12. HLA-B62 and HLA-DQ8 are associated with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome with fixed dystonia. By Rooij, Gosso, et al. See study at: Open Original Shared Link.
13. HLA-DQ8 and the HLA-DQ8-DR4 haplotype are positively associated with the hevein-specific IgE immune response in health care workers with latex allergy. By  Rihs Hans-Peter; Chen Zhiping; Ruëff Franziska; et al. See abstract at: Open Original Shared Link
    

Celiac.com 03/30/2004 – According to Umaprasanna S. Karnam, MD (University of Miami School of Medicine in Florida), and colleagues, celiac disease is present in around 3% of iron-deficiency anemia cases. The researchers looked at all patients seen at the University of Miami for iron-deficiency anemia between 1998 and 2000. Iron-deficiency anemia was defined in their study as serum ferritin less than 25 ng/mL and hemoglobin less than 12 g/dL for women and less than 14 g/dL for men. Interestingly, patients with prior documented ulcerative or erosive conditions of the gastrointestinal tract or overt gastrointestinal bleeding during the prior three months were excluded (which means that many with advanced celiac disease would have been excluded from this study). Out of 139 possible patients with iron-deficiency anemia, 105 patients were included in the study (57 men and 48 women).

According to the researchers: The prevalence of occult celiac disease in this prospective study of patients presenting with iron-deficiency anemia was 2.8%. A significant number of other gastrointestinal lesions amenable to therapy were also found on upper and lower endoscopy in these patients, the authors write. Given the treatable nature of celiac disease, it should be screened for in patients with unexplained iron-deficiency anemia with or without hemoccult-positive stools. The investigators recommend panendoscopy and screening for this treatable condition in unexplained cases.

It is likely that had the study included patients with gastrointestinal bleeding or ulcerative conditions the rate of celiac disease would have been higher, perhaps as high as 5%.

Br J Haematol 2000;111:898-901.

Celiac.com 02/15/2001 - As reported in the December issue of the British Journal of Haematology, Dr. D. J. Unsworth of Southmead Hospital in Bristol, UK, and colleagues examined 483 blood samples that were found to be anemic (hemoglobin

Results: The researchers found that by screening anemic adults for celiac disease they ended up with a detection rate of 6%, compared with 0% detection of celiac disease using EDTA blood samples from 250 non-anemic blood donors.

Conclusion: Celiac disease in menstruating women is under-investigated as a potential cause of iron-deficiency anemia. Celiac disease serology is easy, cheap and reliable, and the researchers recommend that all cases of anemia with an uncertain cause, including when the only cause is though to be menstruation, be tested for celiac disease-associated autoantibodies.