Introduction: Celiac disease is a chronic autoimmune condition, in genetically susceptible persons, perpetuated by the ingested gluten from cereals, wheat and barley, its clinical spectrum is broad, varies from absence of symptoms to gastrointestinal (classic) and/or extra intestinal (non-classic) symptoms, patients without symptoms may have latent or silent celiac disease, because celiac disease can be atypical or even clinically silent, many patients remain undiagnosed and at risk for the long-term, sometimes serious complications of untreated celiac disease. Short stature is the most commonly encountered extra-intestinal (non –classical) symptoms of CD in children, being found in roughly one-third of all new pediatric celiac diagnoses, while it can be directly related to malabsorption of nutrients, it should completely reverse once a child is strictly adherent to Gluten free diet.
Aim of the work: The goal of this study was to screen for coeliac disease in Egyptian children with unexplained short stature by estimating serum level of total IgA and tissue transglutaminase IgA.
Methodology: Cross sectional analytical study for 100 child with short stature (males and females), attended the pediatric out-patient clinics of AL-Sayed Galal and Alhussen university hospitals in Cairo during the period from April 2017 to march 2019, any child aged 2- 18 years with undetectable cause of short stature whose Z score for height was less than -2 SD for the age and sex according to the WHO charts (WHO, 2006), not previously screened for Celiac disease was enrolled in the study, after approval of his care-giver, the medical records of patients evaluated for short stature include a proper detailed history and physical examination, growth analysis, followed by radiological (bone age), and Laboratory screening (including celiac serological screening and Growth hormone evaluation) , chromosomal analysis were performed when appropriate, followed by small intestinal biopsy for celiac seropositive patients and Growth hormone stimulation test was performed in suspected patients.
Results: The demographic characteristics of all 100 cases regarding mean age in months was 80.85 ± 33.55 with range 36 – 179, Sex distribution of all cases was 52 (52.0%) female and 48 (48.0%) male, mean height in cm for all cases was 102.04 ± 13.48 with range 84 – 141 and median height Z score for all study group was -3.4 (-3.6 – -3) with range -4.6 - -2.6.
The results showed that 11(11%) cases were positive for TTG IgA antibodies with normal level of total IgA Identified celiac cases with mean age in months was 86.91 ± 37.58, female cases were 7 (63.6%) and 4 (36.4%) cases were males, mean Height in cm was 102.18 ± 14 and median height Z score was -3.6 (-4.3 – -3.4).