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Notizen: Aim : To evaluate clinical and psychological status of adults with childhood diagnosis of coeliac disease who were re-exposed to gluten after only a few years and now on a gluten-containing diet, compared with adults with recent diagnosis of coeliac disease, and adults who remained on gluten-free diet after childhood diagnosis.Methods : A total of 195 adults with a biopsy suggestive of coeliac disease in childhood, who either had adhered to a gluten-free diet for at least 1 year after diagnosis and now are either on gluten-free diet (n = 110) or on gluten-containing diet (n = 85), and adults with newly diagnosed coeliac disease (n = 165) underwent a medical check-up.Results : Body mass index and main laboratory indices were statistically different among groups (lowest in never on gluten-free diet, highest in gluten-free diet). The lowest average levels of bone mineral density were found among never on gluten-free diet patients. Prevalence of autoimmune disorders was increased in never on gluten-free diet when compared with the transient gluten-free diet and gluten-free diet groups. Histology revealed villous subatrophy in all patients of never on gluten-free diet group, in 39 of 110 patients of gluten-free diet and in 84 of 85 of transient gluten-free diet groups. Herpetiform dermatitis was found in three patients of gluten-free diet, three of transient gluten-free diet and three of never on gluten-free diet. Dental enamel defects were found in 15 patients of transient gluten-free diet, 43 of never on gluten-free diet and in zero of the gluten-free diet group. Pregnancy outcome was not significantly different between the two groups, but neonatal weight was lower and breast feeding was shorter in the never on gluten-free diet group. Sexual habits, alcohol intake and cigarette smoking were significantly different in the never on gluten-free diet group when compared with the other two groups.Conclusion : Gluten withdrawal in childhood partly protects coeliac adults from clinical and behavioural effects of gluten sensitivity.

Notizen: Background : Fatigue is reported by many adults at the moment of diagnosis of coeliac disease and during follow-up.Aim : To evaluate the prevalence, characteristics and associations of fatigue in adult coeliac disease patients.Methods : The investigated sample comprised adults from Campania, Italy. A total of 130 coeliac disease patients were consecutively recruited in both treated (59 on gluten-free diet) and untreated conditions (71 on normal diet). The control group was made up of 80 healthy controls. Coeliac disease patients and healthy controls underwent laboratory tests, a set of questionnaires for studying fatigue: visual analogue scale for fatigue, chronic fatigue syndrome questionnaire, fatigue severity scale and a modified version of the Zung self-rating depression scale.Results : Coeliac disease patients showed a significantly lower body mass index than controls (P = 0.0001), lower serum iron (P = 0.04). The entire cohort of coeliac disease patients reported greater modified version of the Zung self-rating depression scale score (P = 0.001), greater visual analogue scale for fatigue score (P = 0.0001) and greater chronic fatigue syndrome questionnaire score (P = 0.0001) compared with healthy controls. Coeliac disease patients on a gluten-free diet had a significantly higher modified version of the Zung self-rating depression scale score than coeliacs on a normal diet (P = 0.001). The prevalence of pathological modified version of the Zung self-rating depression scale score was 17% in all coeliac disease patients and 0% in healthy controls. A significant correlation was found between modified version of the Zung self-rating depression scale score and fatigue scale scores in coeliacs on a normal diet. Presence/absence of gastrointestinal symptoms did not show any significant correlation with modified version of the Zung self-rating depression scale score and fatigue scale scores. In coeliacs on a gluten-free diet, modified version of the Zung self-rating depression scale and fatigue scales scores did not significantly differ from coeliacs on a normal diet and were not related to dietetic compliance.Conclusion : In coeliacs, fatigue is a common finding, which ameliorates with the gluten-free diet and is strictly correlated to depression although coeliacs on a gluten-free diet showed more frequent and more severe depression symptoms than coeliacs on a normal diet.