Original ArticleClinical, Serologic, and Histologic Features of Gluten Sensitivity in Children
Section snippets
Methods
Our case series consists of 15 children with GS (10 males and 5 females; median age, 10.3 years; age range, 1.6-15 years) diagnosed at 2 pediatric gastroenterology centers at the University of Bari and University of Ancona in 2012-2013. These are tertiary referral centers for CD and other pediatric gastrointestinal disorders, each following up more than 800 children with CD. All children were referred to confirm/exclude an adverse food reaction to wheat ingestion. The suspicion of GS emerged
Results
All children with GS were referred to our attention because of a clear association between wheat consumption and symptoms, along with resolution after GFD. The hospital challenge produced early appearance of symptoms after gluten ingestion (median, 44 hours; range, 38-80 hours). Clinical characteristics of children with GS are summarized in Table II (available at www.jpeds.com).
Abdominal pain was the most frequent symptom, reported by 12 children (80%), followed by chronic diarrhea in 11 (73%);
Discussion
This series of children with GS supports the existence of this condition in children across all ages with clinical, serologic, genetic, and histologic features partially similar to those reported in adults. GS, a form of gluten intolerance in which neither allergic nor autoimmune mechanisms can be identified, is a recently described disorder that belongs to the spectrum of gluten-related disorders. Whether GS may include patients at the mild end of the celiac spectrum remains to be clarified.4
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C.C. has received consulting fees from Menarini Diagnostics, Schär, and Heinz Italia. The remaining authors declare no conflicts of interest.