Screening of celiac disease in first-degree relatives

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to analyze the prevalence of celiac disease (CD) in first-degree relatives of patients diagnosed with this disorder in Cantabria (Northern Spain). SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A questionnaire was administered and a complete biologic study was performed in 184 relatives. When serum CD-related antibodies were detected relatives were asked to undergo a jejunal biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. RESULTS: Thirteen relatives had autoantibodies yet only 4 were diagnosed with CD. The biopsy was suggestive of CD in 3 relatives who underwent it. A further relative was diagnosed with CD by the clinical and serological response to a gluten-free diet. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence found in our study is high enough so that we recommend the screening of autoantibodies, especially anti-gliadin and anti-transglutaminase antibodies, in this risk-population of celiac disease.