Abstract

INTRODUCTION

In the past, the celiac disease (CD) was considered rare and as mainly affecting the pediatric population¹1. Bonamico M, Nenna R, Montuori M, Luparia RP, Turchetti A, Mennini M, et al. First salivary screening of celiac disease by detection of anti-transglutaminase autoantibody radioimmunoassay in 5000 Italian primary schoolchildren. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2011; 52(1): 17-20.. Recently, this panorama has been changing, mainly due to the development of more sensitive and specific serological tests, which, besides favoring the early diagnosis, make possible the conduction of several screening inquiries in asymptomatic subjects whose results indicate that the real prevalence of CD may be higher than 1% in different places¹1. Bonamico M, Nenna R, Montuori M, Luparia RP, Turchetti A, Mennini M, et al. First salivary screening of celiac disease by detection of anti-transglutaminase autoantibody radioimmunoassay in 5000 Italian primary schoolchildren. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2011; 52(1): 17-20.

2. Akbari MR, Mohammadkhani A, Fakheri H, Javad ZM, Shahbazkhani B, Nouraie M, et al. Screening of the adult population in Iran for coeliac disease: comparison of the tissue-transglutaminase antibody and anti-endomysial antibody tests. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2006; 18(11): 1181-6.

3. Bahia M, Penna FJ, Sampaio IB, Silva GM, Andrade EM. Determining IgA and IgG antigliadin, IgA antitransglutaminase, and antiendomysial antibodies in monkey esophagus and in umbilical cord for diagnosis of celiac disease in developing countries. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2007; 45(5): 551-8.

4. Brandt KG, Silva GA. Soroprevalência da doença celíaca em ambulatório pediátrico, no nordeste do Brasil. Arq Gastroenterol 2008; 45(3): 239-42.^-55. Nenna R, Tiberti C, Petrarca L, Lucantoni F, Mennini M, Luparia RP, et al. The celiac iceberg: a characterization of the disease in primary school children. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2012; 56(4): 416-21.. Lately, CD has been diagnosed especially in a later phase of life, and the highest prevalence is found in female adults⁶6. Reilly NR, Green PH. Epidemiology and clinical presentations of celiac disease. Semin Immunopathol 2012; 34(4): 473-8..

It is known that the CD may appear with variable frequency in children and adults in several geographic areas, with a wide spectrum of symptoms, and may happen in subjects that do not present any symptoms¹1. Bonamico M, Nenna R, Montuori M, Luparia RP, Turchetti A, Mennini M, et al. First salivary screening of celiac disease by detection of anti-transglutaminase autoantibody radioimmunoassay in 5000 Italian primary schoolchildren. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2011; 52(1): 17-20.

2. Akbari MR, Mohammadkhani A, Fakheri H, Javad ZM, Shahbazkhani B, Nouraie M, et al. Screening of the adult population in Iran for coeliac disease: comparison of the tissue-transglutaminase antibody and anti-endomysial antibody tests. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2006; 18(11): 1181-6.

3. Bahia M, Penna FJ, Sampaio IB, Silva GM, Andrade EM. Determining IgA and IgG antigliadin, IgA antitransglutaminase, and antiendomysial antibodies in monkey esophagus and in umbilical cord for diagnosis of celiac disease in developing countries. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2007; 45(5): 551-8.

4. Brandt KG, Silva GA. Soroprevalência da doença celíaca em ambulatório pediátrico, no nordeste do Brasil. Arq Gastroenterol 2008; 45(3): 239-42.^-55. Nenna R, Tiberti C, Petrarca L, Lucantoni F, Mennini M, Luparia RP, et al. The celiac iceberg: a characterization of the disease in primary school children. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2012; 56(4): 416-21.. In Western countries, there are records of CD reaching around 1% of the general population⁶6. Reilly NR, Green PH. Epidemiology and clinical presentations of celiac disease. Semin Immunopathol 2012; 34(4): 473-8.^,77. Alarida K, Harown J, Ahmaida A, Marinelli L, Venturini C, Kodermaz G, et al. Coeliac disease in Libyan children: a screening study based on the rapid determination of anti-transglutaminase antibodies. Dig Liver Dis 2011; 43(9): 688-91.. In the United States, a 0.71%⁷7. Alarida K, Harown J, Ahmaida A, Marinelli L, Venturini C, Kodermaz G, et al. Coeliac disease in Libyan children: a screening study based on the rapid determination of anti-transglutaminase antibodies. Dig Liver Dis 2011; 43(9): 688-91.^,88. Rubio-Tapia A, Ludvigsson JF, Brantner TL, Murray JA, Everhart JE. The prevalence of celiac disease in the United States. Am J Gastroenterol 2012; 107(10): 1538-44. prevalence was identified and, in the European continent, the highest occurrence of CD was found in Finland (2.4 to 2.6%) and the lowest in Germany (0.3 to 0.5%)⁶6. Reilly NR, Green PH. Epidemiology and clinical presentations of celiac disease. Semin Immunopathol 2012; 34(4): 473-8.^,99. Kang JY, Kang AH, Green A, Gwee KA, Ho KY. Systematic review: worldwide variation in the frequency of coeliac disease and changes over time. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2013; 38(3): 226-45.. Studies have reported that the CD prevalence in developing countries is similar to that seen in the Western world, with the following data: Middle East (0.5 to 1.8%), East and South of Asia (0.32 to 1.04%), North of Africa (0.14 to 5.6%), and Latin America (0.15 to 2.7%)⁹9. Kang JY, Kang AH, Green A, Gwee KA, Ho KY. Systematic review: worldwide variation in the frequency of coeliac disease and changes over time. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2013; 38(3): 226-45.^,1010. Barada K, Abu DH, Rostami K, Catassi C. Celiac disease in the developing world. Gastrointest Endosc Clin N Am 2012; 22(4): 773-96.. In Brazil, results of studies carried out in some regions showed that the CD prevalence is similar to that found in developed countries, varying from 0.15 to 1.94%¹¹11. Almeida PL, Gandolfi L, Modelli IC, Martins RC, Almeida RC, Pratesi R. Prevalence of celiac disease among first degree relatives of Brazilian celiac patients. Arq Gastroenterol 2008; 45(1): 69-72.

12. Crovella S, Brandao L, Guimaraes R, Filho JL, Arraes LC, Ventura A, et al. Speeding up coeliac disease diagnosis in the developing countries. Dig Liver Dis 2007; 39(10): 900-2.

13. Gandolfi L, Pratesi R, Cordoba JC, Tauil PL, Gasparin M, Catassi C. Prevalence of celiac disease among blood donors in Brazil. Am J Gastroenterol 2000; 95(3): 689-92.^-1414. Trevisiol C, Brandt KG, Silva GA, Crovella S, Ventura A. High prevalence of unrecognized celiac disease in an unselected hospital population in north-eastern Brasil (Recife, Pernambuco). J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2004; 39(2): 214-5..

Despite the advance in diagnostic techniques, it is possible to assume that most CD cases still remain undiagnosed. Results of studies indicate that the late diagnosis of CD raises the risk of complications and of the disease severity, besides increasing the chance of associated comorbidities installation, conditions that can be prevented with early diagnosis and treatment⁴4. Brandt KG, Silva GA. Soroprevalência da doença celíaca em ambulatório pediátrico, no nordeste do Brasil. Arq Gastroenterol 2008; 45(3): 239-42.^,1515. Araujo J, da Silva GA, de Melo FM. Serum prevalence of celiac disease in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus. J Pediatr (Rio J ) 2006;82(3):210-4.^,1616. Husby S, Koletzko S, Korponay-Szabó IR, Mearin ML, Phillips A, Shamir R, et al. European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition guidelines for the diagnosis of coeliac disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2012; 54(1): 136-60.. Even though CD is a severe disease, there are only few population-based studies performed regionally or nationally in Brazil about its occurrence. The objective of this study was to identify CD seroprevalence in healthy adolescents from public schools in Salvador city, Bahia, Brazil.

METHOD

Cross-sectional study that is part of a bigger investigation named "Psychosocial Factors as Elements that have an effect in Health, Nutrition and Cognitive Development Conditions of Elementary Students from Public Schools in Salvador/BA". It was carried out with 11 to 17 year-old students both male and female, of Elementary Levels (7^th, 8^th and 9^th years) from public schools in Salvador city, Bahia, Brazil. For the sample calculation, information from the 2007 School Census was used, which were available by the Education Secretariat from Bahia State, resulting in 77,873 students enrolled in state schools in Salvador. The sampling technique of conglomerates in two stages was adopted, represented by schools (first stage) and classes (second stage). To investigate CD seroprevalence, sample outlining was based on the occurrence of 0.8% for CD seroprevalence in blood donators in the city of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo state¹⁷17. Melo SB, Fernandes MI, Peres LC, Troncon LE, Galvao LC. Prevalence and demographic characteristics of celiac disease among blood donors in Ribeirão Preto, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Dig Dis Sci 2006; 51(5): 1020-5., with a 95% confidence interval (95%CI) and maximum admissible error of 0.6, therefore the estimated sample minimum number was of 1,204 adolescents.

Twenty-three of 207 state schools were randomly chosen to compose this study and, later, the raffle of three classes per school was performed. All students enrolled in the raffled classes were eligible to participate in the study. Those who presented their parents or responsible ones' authorization through the free informed consent participated in the investigation. This consent detailed the objectives, procedures and steps of the study. Pregnant and breastfeeding women and adolescents with physical problems that did not follow the inclusion criteria of the greater study were excluded. The bigger investigation included 1,496 students; in which 1,215 of them performed blood collection, registering an 8.08% loss (281 students). All adolescents presented a written authorization from their parents or responsible ones to participate in the study and those with positive or non-determined IgA anti-transglutaminase (anti-tTG) antibody were followed-up for therapeutic investigation and guidance. This investigation was approved by the Ethics Committee in Research of the Nutrition School, Universidade Federal da Bahia. There was no conflict of interest.

Data collection happened in the school environment by qualified and previously trained professionals, during the period from July to December 2009.

Adolescents had their weights obtained through the Master^(r) portable digital balance and heights through the portable stadiometer Leicester Height Measure^(r), and a maximum variation of 100 g and 0.5 cm was admitted for weight and height respectively. The body mass index was used to diagnose the nutritional status, adopting percentiles according to age and gender, proposed by the World Health Organization¹⁸18. World Health Organization. Growth reference data for 5-19 years, WHO reference 2007., categorized in thinness (< percentile 3), appropriate (≥ percentile 3 and ≤ percentile 85), overweight (> percentile 85 and ≤ percentile 97), and obesity (percentile > 97). Adolescents provided information regarding the presence of clinical manifestations (digestive and extra-digestive) that may be associated with CD, with the following answer alternatives: 1 = never, 2 = sometimes, 3 = rarely, 4 = frequently, and 5 = always, registered in a standard questionnaire. The answer "frequently or always" indicated the presence of clinical manifestation.

After a 12-hour fasting, 10 mL of the adolescents' blood were collected through the venous vein, in a proper environment in the school. Samples were duly conditioned and transported to the laboratory. The anti-human transglutaminase immunoglobulin A antibody (anti tTG-IgA) was adopted for this study as a specific serological test for CD screening, and determined by the enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA) using a diagnosis set of Orgentec Diagnostika GmbH, Mainz, Germany (GmbH). Results were expressed in arbitrary units (AU). Results higher than 10 AU were considered positive, and when they were lower than 7 AU, they were negative, according to the criteria recommended by the supplier of the diagnosis set.

Proportion was adopted for categorized data and mean (standard deviation) for the continuous variables in order to characterize the event in population. For data analysis, the statistical package SPSS (version 19.0) was used.

RESULTS

The mean age of students that composed the study was of 14.3 years old (standard deviation = 1.54 years old), and most of them was female (59.5%). The nutritional status was appropriate in 77.1% of the adolescents; thinness was identified in 7.7%; and overweight/obesity in 15.1%.

Two blood samples were lost due to hemolysis; therefore, the determination of the anti-tTG-IgA antibody was performed in 1,213 adolescents.

The anti-tTG-IgA antibody was positive in 6/1,213 (0.49%) adolescents. Values of anti-tTG-IgA antibody in the cut point considered undetermined (7 to 10 AU) were seen in five adolescents (0.41%), so they were classified with negative serology for CD. It was also found a case of CD confirmed in the childhood of a female adolescent, with negative anti-tTG-IgA antibody; however, since then treatment was being carried out with a gluten-free diet.

The characteristics of adolescents with positive anti-tTG-IgA are presented in the Chart 1. The appropriate nutritional status was seen in most adolescents (66.7%) that showed positive anti-tTG-IgA antibody; there was also an adolescent with thinness and another with overweight. The most reported digestive manifestation among these adolescents was constipation.

DISCUSSION

This is the first serological screening study for CD performed in adolescents from public schools in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. This is the biggest capital of the Brazilian Northeast area, a fact that emphasizes even more the probabilistic profile of the sample. In the present study, 0.49% (6/1,213) seroprevalence was identified for CD, assessed by the anti-tTG-IgA antibody and one CD case confirmed by biopsy performed before the study.

Population-based studies that discuss about the CD seroprevalence characterization in Brazil are rare. Data of studies performed in specific populations identified that the positivity prevalence of the anti-TtG antibody varied from 0.28 to 1.76% in adolescents and adults from the South, Southeast and Northeast areas¹²12. Crovella S, Brandao L, Guimaraes R, Filho JL, Arraes LC, Ventura A, et al. Speeding up coeliac disease diagnosis in the developing countries. Dig Liver Dis 2007; 39(10): 900-2.^,1717. Melo SB, Fernandes MI, Peres LC, Troncon LE, Galvao LC. Prevalence and demographic characteristics of celiac disease among blood donors in Ribeirão Preto, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Dig Dis Sci 2006; 51(5): 1020-5.^,1919. Moura ACA, Castro-Antunes MM, Lima LAM, Nobre JMM, Motta MEFA, Silva GAP. Triagem sorológica para doença celíaca em adolescentes e adultos jovens, estudantes universitários. Rev Bras Saude Mater Infant 2012; 12(2): 121-6.

20. Oliveira RP, Sdepanian VL, Barreto JA, Cortez AJ, Carvalho FO, Bordin JO, et al. High prevalence of celiac disease in Brazilian blood donor volunteers based on screening by IgA antitissue transglutaminase antibody. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2007; 19(1): 43-9.^-2121. Pereira MA, Ortiz-Agostinho CL, Nishitokukado I, Sato MN, Damiao AO, Alencar ML, et al. Prevalence of celiac disease in an urban area of Brazil with predominantly European ancestry. World J Gastroenterol 2006; 12(40): 6546-50.. Seroprevalence through the anti-tTG IgA antibody of 3.80²²22. Gueiros ACLM, Silva GAP. Soropositividade para doença celíaca em crianças e adolescentes com baixa estatura. Rev Paul Pediatr 2009; 27(1): 28-32., 3.37⁴4. Brandt KG, Silva GA. Soroprevalência da doença celíaca em ambulatório pediátrico, no nordeste do Brasil. Arq Gastroenterol 2008; 45(3): 239-42. and 4.56%¹⁴14. Trevisiol C, Brandt KG, Silva GA, Crovella S, Ventura A. High prevalence of unrecognized celiac disease in an unselected hospital population in north-eastern Brasil (Recife, Pernambuco). J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2004; 39(2): 214-5. were seen in children and adolescents of Pernambuco, percentages that are expressively higher than that seen (0.49%) in adolescents from Salvador. It is worth mentioning that studies done in Pernambuco were carried out in hospital and ambulatory populations, also one of them was performed with children and adolescents with low stature, which can be an atypical form of CD presentation²²22. Gueiros ACLM, Silva GAP. Soropositividade para doença celíaca em crianças e adolescentes com baixa estatura. Rev Paul Pediatr 2009; 27(1): 28-32..

In other regions worldwide, the CD seroprevalence, assessed by anti-tTG-IgA antibody, was registered in children and adolescents that were previously healthy, like in studies carried out in Libya (0.82%)⁷7. Alarida K, Harown J, Ahmaida A, Marinelli L, Venturini C, Kodermaz G, et al. Coeliac disease in Libyan children: a screening study based on the rapid determination of anti-transglutaminase antibodies. Dig Liver Dis 2011; 43(9): 688-91., Belgium (0.86%)²³23. Vijgen S, Alliet P, Gillis P, Declercq P, Mewis A. Seroprevalence of celiac disease in Belgian children and adolescents. Acta Gastroenterol Belg 2012; 75(3): 325-30. and Italy (1.5%)²⁴24. Tommasini A, Not T, Kiren V, Baldas V, Santon D, Trevisiol C, et al. Mass screening for coeliac disease using antihuman transglutaminase antibody assay. Arch Dis Child 2004; 89(6): 512-5.. In Saudi Arabia, a study with 1,167 healthy adolescents identified positivity of the anti-endomysial antibody in 2.2% of the subjects²⁵25. Aljebreen AM, Almadi MA, Alhammad A, Al Faleh FZ. Seroprevalence of celiac disease among healthy adolescents in Saudi Arabia. World J Gastroenterol 2013; 19(15): 2374-8.. A seroprevalence that is considered excessively high (5.6%) was seen in children in the North of Africa, through the anti-endomysial antibody⁶6. Reilly NR, Green PH. Epidemiology and clinical presentations of celiac disease. Semin Immunopathol 2012; 34(4): 473-8., which emphasizes that in different geographic areas, the CD serological prevalence is variable.

Recently, a study performed in the afro-descendent pediatric and adults populations in ten communities in Bahia, Sergipe and Piauí states, Brazilian Northeast side, registered absence of CD seroprevalence when the anti-endomysial antibody was assessed²⁶26. Almeida RC, Gandolfi L, De NK-G, Ferrari I, Sousa SM, Abe-Sandes K, et al. Does celiac disease occur in Afro-derived Brazilian populations? Am J Hum Biol 2012; 24(5): 710-2.. Thus, the authors suggested that different ancestral populations that populated different areas of Brazil may have influenced the variability found in the CD prevalence in the country²⁶26. Almeida RC, Gandolfi L, De NK-G, Ferrari I, Sousa SM, Abe-Sandes K, et al. Does celiac disease occur in Afro-derived Brazilian populations? Am J Hum Biol 2012; 24(5): 710-2..

It is believed that genetic, environmental variables, especially age when the child was exposed to gluten, as well as the quantity ingested in the diet, are factors related to the CD variable prevalence in different geographic areas⁴4. Brandt KG, Silva GA. Soroprevalência da doença celíaca em ambulatório pediátrico, no nordeste do Brasil. Arq Gastroenterol 2008; 45(3): 239-42.^,99. Kang JY, Kang AH, Green A, Gwee KA, Ho KY. Systematic review: worldwide variation in the frequency of coeliac disease and changes over time. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2013; 38(3): 226-45.^,1010. Barada K, Abu DH, Rostami K, Catassi C. Celiac disease in the developing world. Gastrointest Endosc Clin N Am 2012; 22(4): 773-96.. Another condition that can explain the difference in CD seroprevalence identified in the studies is the selection of the sample. CD occurrence identified by studies that adopt ambulatory or hospital samplings can reflect the effect of selection, since these population-based segments can go to these services due to comorbidities associated with CD. On the other hand, adoption of a population-based sample can explain lower prevalence of CD. Variables like the screening method used, heterogeneity of the studied population and sensitivity of tests may also influence on the variability in the CD seroprevalence⁹9. Kang JY, Kang AH, Green A, Gwee KA, Ho KY. Systematic review: worldwide variation in the frequency of coeliac disease and changes over time. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2013; 38(3): 226-45.^,1010. Barada K, Abu DH, Rostami K, Catassi C. Celiac disease in the developing world. Gastrointest Endosc Clin N Am 2012; 22(4): 773-96..

Seroprevalence studies are important for contributing to the early diagnosis of CD in asymptomatic subjects, choosing the ones that should be submitted to intestinal biopsy⁴4. Brandt KG, Silva GA. Soroprevalência da doença celíaca em ambulatório pediátrico, no nordeste do Brasil. Arq Gastroenterol 2008; 45(3): 239-42.^,55. Nenna R, Tiberti C, Petrarca L, Lucantoni F, Mennini M, Luparia RP, et al. The celiac iceberg: a characterization of the disease in primary school children. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2012; 56(4): 416-21.^,77. Alarida K, Harown J, Ahmaida A, Marinelli L, Venturini C, Kodermaz G, et al. Coeliac disease in Libyan children: a screening study based on the rapid determination of anti-transglutaminase antibodies. Dig Liver Dis 2011; 43(9): 688-91.^,1111. Almeida PL, Gandolfi L, Modelli IC, Martins RC, Almeida RC, Pratesi R. Prevalence of celiac disease among first degree relatives of Brazilian celiac patients. Arq Gastroenterol 2008; 45(1): 69-72.^,1616. Husby S, Koletzko S, Korponay-Szabó IR, Mearin ML, Phillips A, Shamir R, et al. European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition guidelines for the diagnosis of coeliac disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2012; 54(1): 136-60.. Until now, there is a general agreement that CD diagnosis can only be defined and the gluten-free diet can only be done after performance of digestive endoscopy with achievement of multiple duodenal biopsies that show alterations of mucosa inflammation and atrophy, compatible with CD²2. Akbari MR, Mohammadkhani A, Fakheri H, Javad ZM, Shahbazkhani B, Nouraie M, et al. Screening of the adult population in Iran for coeliac disease: comparison of the tissue-transglutaminase antibody and anti-endomysial antibody tests. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2006; 18(11): 1181-6.^,2727. Diniz-Santos DR, Machado APSL, Silva LR. Doença celíaca. In: Carvalho E, Silva LR, Ferreira CT (eds). Gastroenterologia e Nutrição em Pediatria. São Paulo: 2012. p. 359-405.^,2828. Tanpowpong P, Ingham TR, Lampshire PK, Kirchberg FF, Epton MJ, Crane J, et al. Coeliac disease and gluten avoidance in New Zealand children. Arch Dis Child 2012; 97(1): 12-6.. This procedure is necessary since some subjects may present positive antibodies for CD, but do not satisfy criteria that define the presence of disease²⁷27. Diniz-Santos DR, Machado APSL, Silva LR. Doença celíaca. In: Carvalho E, Silva LR, Ferreira CT (eds). Gastroenterologia e Nutrição em Pediatria. São Paulo: 2012. p. 359-405..

Several studies have showed and recommended the anti-tTG-IgA antibody as the best serological test available for CD screening, being useful to identify new CD patients with light symptoms, non-specific general complaints or extra-intestinal manifestations, as well as population and epidemiological tracking²2. Akbari MR, Mohammadkhani A, Fakheri H, Javad ZM, Shahbazkhani B, Nouraie M, et al. Screening of the adult population in Iran for coeliac disease: comparison of the tissue-transglutaminase antibody and anti-endomysial antibody tests. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2006; 18(11): 1181-6.^,33. Bahia M, Penna FJ, Sampaio IB, Silva GM, Andrade EM. Determining IgA and IgG antigliadin, IgA antitransglutaminase, and antiendomysial antibodies in monkey esophagus and in umbilical cord for diagnosis of celiac disease in developing countries. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2007; 45(5): 551-8.^,77. Alarida K, Harown J, Ahmaida A, Marinelli L, Venturini C, Kodermaz G, et al. Coeliac disease in Libyan children: a screening study based on the rapid determination of anti-transglutaminase antibodies. Dig Liver Dis 2011; 43(9): 688-91.^,1212. Crovella S, Brandao L, Guimaraes R, Filho JL, Arraes LC, Ventura A, et al. Speeding up coeliac disease diagnosis in the developing countries. Dig Liver Dis 2007; 39(10): 900-2.^,2323. Vijgen S, Alliet P, Gillis P, Declercq P, Mewis A. Seroprevalence of celiac disease in Belgian children and adolescents. Acta Gastroenterol Belg 2012; 75(3): 325-30.^,2929. Candon S, Mauvais FX, Garnier-Lengline H, Chatenoud L, Schmitz J. Monitoring of anti-transglutaminase autoantibodies in pediatric celiac disease using a sensitive radiobinding assay. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2012; 54(3): 392-6.. The determination of the anti-tTG-IgA antibody through ELISA is a reliable test with 90 to 99% sensitivity and a specificity of 94 to 100%²2. Akbari MR, Mohammadkhani A, Fakheri H, Javad ZM, Shahbazkhani B, Nouraie M, et al. Screening of the adult population in Iran for coeliac disease: comparison of the tissue-transglutaminase antibody and anti-endomysial antibody tests. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2006; 18(11): 1181-6.^,1616. Husby S, Koletzko S, Korponay-Szabó IR, Mearin ML, Phillips A, Shamir R, et al. European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition guidelines for the diagnosis of coeliac disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2012; 54(1): 136-60.^,3030. Goncalves CB, Silva IN, Tanure MG, Bahia M. Estudo da prevalência da doença celíaca em crianças e adolescentes com diabetes melito tipo 1: resultado de 10 anos de acompanhamento. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metabol 2013; 57(5): 375-80.^,3131. Ucardag D, Guliter S, Ceneli O, Yakaryilmaz F, Atasoy P, Caglayan O. Celiac disease prevalence in patients with iron deficiency anemia of obscure origin. Turk J Gastroenterol 2009; 20(4): 266-70.. It is worth mentioning that studies have showed that most subjects with positive anti-tTG antibody have CD confirmation through biopsy²2. Akbari MR, Mohammadkhani A, Fakheri H, Javad ZM, Shahbazkhani B, Nouraie M, et al. Screening of the adult population in Iran for coeliac disease: comparison of the tissue-transglutaminase antibody and anti-endomysial antibody tests. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2006; 18(11): 1181-6.^,1616. Husby S, Koletzko S, Korponay-Szabó IR, Mearin ML, Phillips A, Shamir R, et al. European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition guidelines for the diagnosis of coeliac disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2012; 54(1): 136-60.^,3131. Ucardag D, Guliter S, Ceneli O, Yakaryilmaz F, Atasoy P, Caglayan O. Celiac disease prevalence in patients with iron deficiency anemia of obscure origin. Turk J Gastroenterol 2009; 20(4): 266-70., and such test has a good correlation with the severity and extension of intestinal lesions found in the biopsy²2. Akbari MR, Mohammadkhani A, Fakheri H, Javad ZM, Shahbazkhani B, Nouraie M, et al. Screening of the adult population in Iran for coeliac disease: comparison of the tissue-transglutaminase antibody and anti-endomysial antibody tests. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2006; 18(11): 1181-6.. In Brazil, although the 2009 ministerial decree assures that this test has been performed by the Brazilian National Unified Health System (SUS), until now such procedure has not been initiated in wide scale as it should³²32. Ministério da Saúde, Secretaria de Atenção à Saúde. Protocolo clínico e diretrizes terapêuticas da doença celíaca. Portaria MS/SAS nº 307, de 17 de setembro de 2009. Diário Oficial da União; Poder Executivo, Brasília, DF, 18 set. 2009. Seção I, p. 79-81. Disponível em http://conselho.saude.gov.br/web_comissoes/cian/protocolo_celiaco.html. (Acessado em 19 de novembro de 2012).
http://conselho.saude.gov.br/web_comisso... .

Recently, it has been suggested the determination of the anti-tTG-IgA antibody though finger puncture⁷7. Alarida K, Harown J, Ahmaida A, Marinelli L, Venturini C, Kodermaz G, et al. Coeliac disease in Libyan children: a screening study based on the rapid determination of anti-transglutaminase antibodies. Dig Liver Dis 2011; 43(9): 688-91.^,1212. Crovella S, Brandao L, Guimaraes R, Filho JL, Arraes LC, Ventura A, et al. Speeding up coeliac disease diagnosis in the developing countries. Dig Liver Dis 2007; 39(10): 900-2. and through determination in the saliva¹1. Bonamico M, Nenna R, Montuori M, Luparia RP, Turchetti A, Mennini M, et al. First salivary screening of celiac disease by detection of anti-transglutaminase autoantibody radioimmunoassay in 5000 Italian primary schoolchildren. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2011; 52(1): 17-20.^,55. Nenna R, Tiberti C, Petrarca L, Lucantoni F, Mennini M, Luparia RP, et al. The celiac iceberg: a characterization of the disease in primary school children. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2012; 56(4): 416-21. because they are simpler, more reliable and cheaper. It is believed these tests are useful for CD screening in a near future, especially in developing countries with limited conditions of diagnostic installations to perform immunologic assays¹1. Bonamico M, Nenna R, Montuori M, Luparia RP, Turchetti A, Mennini M, et al. First salivary screening of celiac disease by detection of anti-transglutaminase autoantibody radioimmunoassay in 5000 Italian primary schoolchildren. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2011; 52(1): 17-20.^,77. Alarida K, Harown J, Ahmaida A, Marinelli L, Venturini C, Kodermaz G, et al. Coeliac disease in Libyan children: a screening study based on the rapid determination of anti-transglutaminase antibodies. Dig Liver Dis 2011; 43(9): 688-91.^,1212. Crovella S, Brandao L, Guimaraes R, Filho JL, Arraes LC, Ventura A, et al. Speeding up coeliac disease diagnosis in the developing countries. Dig Liver Dis 2007; 39(10): 900-2.. Furthermore, quick tests can be used in ambulatories, medical clinics, and in big population-based studies¹²12. Crovella S, Brandao L, Guimaraes R, Filho JL, Arraes LC, Ventura A, et al. Speeding up coeliac disease diagnosis in the developing countries. Dig Liver Dis 2007; 39(10): 900-2..

The limitation of the present study was that the levels of IgA were not measured. Deficiency of IgA might be associated with CD, and under such conditions, the serologic test tends to yield false-negative results⁸8. Rubio-Tapia A, Ludvigsson JF, Brantner TL, Murray JA, Everhart JE. The prevalence of celiac disease in the United States. Am J Gastroenterol 2012; 107(10): 1538-44.^,1515. Araujo J, da Silva GA, de Melo FM. Serum prevalence of celiac disease in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus. J Pediatr (Rio J ) 2006;82(3):210-4.^,2323. Vijgen S, Alliet P, Gillis P, Declercq P, Mewis A. Seroprevalence of celiac disease in Belgian children and adolescents. Acta Gastroenterol Belg 2012; 75(3): 325-30.^,3030. Goncalves CB, Silva IN, Tanure MG, Bahia M. Estudo da prevalência da doença celíaca em crianças e adolescentes com diabetes melito tipo 1: resultado de 10 anos de acompanhamento. Arq Bras Endocrinol Metabol 2013; 57(5): 375-80..

CONCLUSION

The present study identified a 0.4% CD seroprevalence among adolescents from public schools in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Thus, further investigations are necessary to confirm the prevalence of CD in other age ranges and in other risk population groups in Bahia and Brazil, especially because it is a disease associated with several frequent morbidities and complications of high prevalence, which deserve early diagnosis and appropriate therapeutic management.

References

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