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Clinical and Paraclinical Screening for Celiac Disease in Children With Intractable Epilepsy Publisher



Esslami GG1 ; Allahverdi B2 ; Badv RS3 ; Heidari M4 ; Khosroshahi N5 ; Shabanimirzaee H5 ; Eftekhari K6
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Ziaeian Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology Research Center, Children's Medical Center, The Pediatric Center of Excellence, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Department of Pediatric Neurology, Children's Medical Center, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Department of Pediatric Neurology, Children's Medical Center, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Department of Pediatric Neurology, Vali-e-Asr Hospital, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  5. 5. Department of Pediatrics, Bahrami Children's Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  6. 6. Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Department of Pediatric, Bahrami Children's Hospital, Tehran, Iran

Source: Neurology Research International Published:2021


Abstract

Background. Celiac disease is the inflammatory entropy caused by hypersensitivity to gluten, which occurs in susceptible individuals. Some studies have suggested a link between celiac disease and epilepsy in children. Our aim was to screen for clinical and paraclinical features of celiac disease in children with intractable epilepsy. Methods. This was a cross-sectional study. Children aged 2 to 18 years with refractory epilepsy that referred to the pediatric neurology clinic within one year (2018-2019) were enrolled. Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients, especially clinical manifestations of celiac disease, were recorded in a questionnaire. A venous blood sample was sent to determine the total IgA, anti-tTG (IgA), and anti-endomysial antibody (IgA). Endoscopy was performed in cases where the celiac serological test was positive. Results. Seventy children with idiopathic drug-resistant epilepsy (44 boys) were evaluated. The height-for-age index was 49.2% and the weight-for-age index was 38.2% less than normal. Constipation (48.6%), anorexia (25.7%), and abdominal pain (21.4%) were the most common gastrointestinal symptoms. Celiac serological tests were negative in all children. Therefore, endoscopy and bowel biopsy were not performed in any case. Conclusion. Celiac disease was not found in any patient with intractable epilepsy. Gastrointestinal symptoms and growth disorders in this group may be related to the underlying disease or medications and not to celiac disease. Copyright © 2021 Golnaz Ghazizadeh Esslami et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.