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Journal of Medical Genetics 2001;38:767-768; doi:10.1136/jmg.38.11.767
Copyright © 2001 by the BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
J Med Genet 2001;38:767-768 ( November )

Short report

Coeliac disease in Williams syndrome Aldo Giannottia, Giovanni Tiberioa, Massimo Castrob, Fabio Virgiliia, Franco Colistroc, Francesca Ferrettib, Maria Cristina Digilioa, Manuela Gambararab, Bruno Dallapiccolad

a Servizio di Genetica Medica, Ospedale Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Piazza S Onofrio 4, 00165, Roma, Italy, b Unità Operativa di Gastroenterologia, Ospedale Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Roma, Italy, c Laboratorio di Analisi, Ospedale Bambino Gesù, IRCCS, Roma, Italy, d Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Patologia, Università La Sapienza e Istituto CSS-Mendel, Roma, Italy

Correspondence to: Dr Giannotti, giannott{at}opbg.net

Revised version received 24 July 2001; Accepted for publication 31 July 2001

BACKGROUND---Coeliac disease (CD) has been reported in several patients affected by chromosomal disorders, including Down syndrome (DS) and Turner syndrome (TS). CD has also been found in sporadic Williams syndrome (WS) patients. In this study, CD was evaluated in a consecutive series of patients with WS, in order to estimate if the prevalence of CD in WS patients is higher than in the general population.
METHODS AND RESULTS---A consecutive series of 63 Italian patients with WS was studied by analysing the dosage of antigliadin antibodies (AGA) IgA and antiendomisium antibodies (AEA). In patients with positive AGA and AEA, small bowel biopsy was performed. The prevalence of CD in our WS population was compared with that estimated in a published series of 17 201 Italian students. Seven WS patients were found to be positive for AGA IgA and AEA. Six of them underwent small bowel biopsy, which invariably disclosed villous atrophy consistent with CD. The prevalence of CD in the present series of WS patients was 9.5% (6/63), compared to 0.54% (1/184) in the Italian students (p<0.001).
CONCLUSION---The present results suggest that the prevalence of CD in WS is higher than in the general population and is comparable to that reported in DS and TS. AGA and AEA screening is recommended in patients with WS.


Keywords: Williams syndrome; coeliac disease

© 2001 by J Med Genet
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