How Common is Celiac Disease in People with Systemic Lupus? 

Celiac.com 03/18/2024 - A recent study aimed to uncover the prevalence of celiac disease among individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus, shedding light on potential connections between the two conditions.

Researchers conducted a thorough investigation, reviewing 14 studies that met their inclusion criteria. They analyzed data from over 1200 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus to determine the prevalence of biopsy-verified celiac disease and serological markers indicative of celiac disease.

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The research team included Adonis Sotoodeh, Madeleine Nguyen Hoang, Karin Hellgren, and Anders Forss. They are variously affiliated with the Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; the Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Gastroenterology, Dermatovenereology and Rheumatology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden; and the Department of Medicine, Solna, Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Serological Markers for Celiac Disease in Those with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus was 3.7%

Surprisingly, the study found that the prevalence of biopsy-verified celiac disease in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus was comparable to that of the general population, at 0.7%. However, the prevalence of serological markers for celiac disease was slightly higher, at 3.7%.

Despite these findings, the researchers did not identify any significant associations between the prevalence of celiac disease in individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus and various study characteristics or demographics.

Based on these results, the researchers concluded that routine screening for celiac disease may not be necessary for all patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. However, they suggested that individual screening could be considered in cases where there is clinical suspicion or additional risk factors for celiac disease.

While further research is needed to fully understand the connection between these two conditions, this study provides important guidance for healthcare professionals in managing patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, who may also be at risk for celiac disease.

Read more in Lupus Science & Medicine at the BMJ