Chronic urticaria and associated coeliac disease in children: A case–control study

  1. L. Caminiti1,
  2. G. Passalacqua2,
  3. G. Magazzù3,
  4. F. Comisi4,
  5. D. Vita1,
  6. G. Barberio1,
  7. C. Sferlazzas3,
  8. G. B. Pajno1

Article first published online: 11 AUG 2005

DOI: 10.1111/j.1399-3038.2005.00309.x

Issue

Pediatric Allergy and Immunology

Pediatric Allergy and Immunology

Volume 16, Issue 5, pages 428–432, August 2005

Additional Information

How to Cite

Caminiti, L., Passalacqua, G., Magazzù, G., Comisi, F., Vita, D., Barberio, G., Sferlazzas, C. and Pajno, G. B. (2005), Chronic urticaria and associated coeliac disease in children: A case–control study. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, 16: 428–432. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-3038.2005.00309.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Pediatrics, Allergy Unit, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

  2. 2

    Allergy and Respiratory Diseases, DIMI, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy

  3. 3

    Department of Pediatrics, Gastroenterology Unit, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

  4. 4

    Unit of Pediatrics, Vittoria Hospital, Vittoria, Ragusa, Italy

*Giovanni B. Pajno, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Allergy Unit, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 98125 Messina, Italy Tel.: + 39 090 2213162 Fax: + 39 090 2212143 E-mail: Giovanni.Pajno@unime.it

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 11 AUG 2005
  2. Article first published online: 11 AUG 2005
  3. Accepted 11 May 2005

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Keywords:

  • chronic urticaria;
  • coeliac disease;
  • case–control;
  • gluten free diet

Celiac disease (CD) and chronic urticaria (CU) are both sustained by immune mechanisms, but there are so far few data on their clinical association. We performed a case–control study to determine the occurrence of CD in urticaria and matched control children, and to assess the clinical relevance of this association. Children and adolescents were diagnosed to have severe chronic idiopathic urticaria in the presence of hives for more than 6 wk poorly or not responsive to oral antihistamines. Other known causes of urticaria had to be excluded. A matched control group without urticaria was enrolled. In both groups, the presence of CD was searched by assaying antitransglutaminase and antiedomysial antibodies, and confirmed with endoscopic intestinal biopsy. Results. CD was diagnosed and confirmed in 4/79 (5.0%) of children with CU and in 17/2545 (0.67%) of the controls (p = 0.0003). In the four children with urticaria and CD the gluten free diet (GFD) lead to complete remission of urticaria within 5–10 wk, whereas the disappearance of serological markers occurred in longer times (5–9 months). Conclusions. The presence of CD in children with CU was significantly more frequent than in controls. GFD resulted in urticaria remission. CD may be regarded in such subjects as a cause of CU.

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