BACKGROUND: Celiac disease is a common problem affecting children and adults, for which early diagnosis and treatment prevent complications and deaths. Seroprevalence studies in our environment are still scarce. AIMS: To determine the seroprevalence of celiac disease by using human tissue antiendomysial and anti-transglutaminase antibodies, among children and adolescents who were attended at a general pediatric outpatient clinic. METHODS: This was a seroprevalence study of descriptive cross-sectional design. First, assays for guinea pig tissue anti-transglutaminase antibodies were performed. Subsequently, in the positive cases, assays for human tissue antiendomysial and anti-transglutaminase antibodies were performed. RESULTS: The seroprevalence of celiac disease by means of anti-guinea pig tissue anti-transglutaminase antibodies was 5% (42/831; 95% CI: 3.76%-6.90%). Considering three positive tests, the seroprevalence was 1.9% (16/831; 95% CI: 1.83%-1.97%). The concordance of human anti-transglutaminase with antiendomysial was 71%. CONCLUSIONS: The seroprevalence of celiac disease was high. Serological screening for celiac disease among children and adolescents who present signs and/or symptoms compatible with celiac disease should be performed routinely, as well as in groups already known to be at risk, given the high seroprevalence of celiac disease observed in our environment.
Celiac disease; Seroepidemiologic studies; Outpatients; Child; Adolescent
