Abstract:

Abstract Aim: Celiac disease is an immune-mediated systemic disorder elicited by the ingestion of gluten in genetically susceptible individuals. Gluten-free diet is the basis of treatment. In our study, it was aimed to evaluate the clinical findings of our patients with celiac disease before and after treatment. Materials and Methods: The files of patients with celiac disease followed by pediatric gastroenterology outpatient clinic between 2012-2017 were reviewed retrospectively. Before and after gluten-free diet clinical characteristics (complaints, findings, body weight-height measurements and laboratory results) of patients were recorded. Before and after gluten-free diet clinical and laboratory findings of patients were compared. Results: The mean age of the 80 patients who were included in the study was 7.4 ± 4.3 and 49 were girls. Six of the 80 patients (7.5%) had a family history of celiac disease. The most common complaint among our patients was growth failure. However, 6 patients (7.5%) were overweight and 2 patients (2.5%) were obese. Before the treatment 25 (31.3%) of the patients  were chronic malnutrition. There was no significant correlation between diagnosis age and malnutrition (mild, moderate, severe) of celiac disease. Chronic diarrhea was present in 21 (26.3%) of the patients. However, 17 (21.3%) of the patients had constipation. Anemia was present in 26 (32.5%) of the patients. Clinical and laboratory findings improved significantly after gluten-free diet. Conclusion: Growth retardation and chronic diarrhea are findings suggestive of celiac disease. However, it should be remembered that celiac patients may also be exposed to overweight, obese, constipation, or various other findings. The treatment of the disease is a lifelong gluten-free diet. For this reason, it is important to educate patients and their parents to maintain a gluten-free diet.

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