Children with celiac disease and high tTGA are genetically and phenotypically different

Table 1 Characteristics of patients n (%)

Patient characteristic	tTGA < 100 U/mL (n = 34)	tTGA≥100 U/mL (n = 82)	P value
Gender (M)	8 (23.5)	24 (29.3)	0.529
Average age (yr)	7.40 ± 4.06	6.10 ± 3.82	0.114
Average height in SDS	-0.60 ± 1.15	-0.83 ± 1.22	0.331
Average weight for height in SDS	0.23 ± 1.03	-0.20 ± 1.19	0.025
CD associated comorbidity	1 (2.9)	10 (12.2)	0.171
First degree relative with CD	9 (26.5)	14 (17.1)	0.248

tTGA: Anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies; SDS: Standard deviation scores; CD: Celiac disease; M: Male.

Table 2 Symptoms in celiac disease patients n (%)

	tTGA < 100 U/mL (n = 34)	tTGA≥100 U/mL (n = 82)	P value
Symptoms
Asymptomatic	1 (2.9)	4 (4.9)	1.000
Gastrointestinal symptoms
Any gastrointestinal symptom	33 (97.1)	62 (75.6)	0.006
Only gastrointestinal symptoms	8 (23.5)	8 (9.8)	0.074
Abdominal pain	26 (76.5)	42 (51.2)	0.012
Diarrhea	8 (23.5)	27 (32.9)	0.316
Constipation	14 (41.2)	21 (25.6)	0.096
Bloating	12 (35.3)	31 (37.8)	0.799
Nausea	6 (17.6)	3 (3.7)	0.018
Vomiting	1 (2.9)	9 (11.0)	0.277
Extraintestinal symptoms
Any extraintestinal symptom	25 (73.5)	70 (85.4)	0.132
Only extraintestinal symptoms	0 (0.0)	15 (18.3)	0.005
Fatigue	16 (47.1)	35 (42.7)	0.666
Irritability	9 (26.5)	25 (30.5)	0.665
Anorexia	13 (38.2)	32 (39.0)	0.937
Increased appetite	1 (2.9)	6 (7.3)	0.672
Joint pain	2 (5.9)	9 (11.0)	0.504
Tooth enamel defects	2 (5.9)	3 (3.7)	0.629
Aphthous stomatitis	0 (0.0)	13 (15.9)	0.010
Anaemia	4 (11.8)	27 (32.9)	0.019
Short stature (height < -2 SDS)	4 (11.8)	11 (13.4)	1.000
Low weight (< -2 SDS)	2 (5.9)	7 (8.5)	1.000

tTGA: Anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies; SDS: Standard deviation scores.

Table 3 Human leukocyte antigen distribution, Marsh classification in celiac disease patients n (%)

	tTGA < 100 U/mL (n = 34)	tTGA≥100 U/mL (n = 82)	P value
HLA-score
1 heterodimer	21 (61.8)	26 (31.7)
2 heterodimers	2 (5.9)	20 (24.4)	0.005
4 heterodimers	11 (32.4)	36 (43.9)
Marsh classification			< 0.001
Marsh IIIa	5 (14.7)	4 (4.9)
Marsh IIIb	22 (64.7)	18 (22.0)
Marsh IIIc	7 (20.6)	60 (73.2)
	n = 331	n = 731	< 0.001
Patchy lesions2	14 (42.4)	5 (6.8)

¹Only 106 patients out of the total study population also underwent duodenal bulb biopsies;

²Discrepancy in the diagnosis based on histology in the duodenal bulb vs in the distal duodenum. HLA: Human leukocyte antigen; tTGA: Anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies.