Prevalence of celiac disease in Tunisian blood donors

摘要: Summary Objectives Prevalence of adult celiac disease is unknown in Tunisia. Symptomatic forms are less frequent than silent forms, which, according to recent serological screening Europe and the United States, have an estimated prevalence 1/100 1/500. We aimed determine healthy blood donors Methods Between November 2002 March 2004, 1 418 sera from were tested for IgA anti-endomysium antibodies (EMA) by indirect immuno-fluorescence on monkey esophagus cryosections. Results The sample population included 1090 men 328 women: mean age 29 26 years respectively. Three two one woman positive EMA. ELISA search anti-tissue tranglutaminase (ATG) these three was two. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with proximal intestinal biopsies performed patients. Subtotal or total villous atrophy observed ATG-positive patients, confirming diagnosis disease. In third patient, histologic examination did not show any abnormality. Conclusion Adult considered relatively rare fact, our study revealed a about 1/700 among donors.