The hidden link between iron deficiency and celiac disease: a clinical perspective - PubMed
2 days ago
- #clinical-study
- #celiac-disease
- #iron-deficiency
- Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated condition triggered by gluten in genetically predisposed individuals and is a common but underdiagnosed cause of iron deficiency (ID).
- Screening for CD is recommended in cases of unexplained ID, but data on its prevalence among patients with absolute ID is limited.
- A retrospective study of 86 individuals with absolute ID (ferritin <50 ng/mL) found 14% had confirmed CD (Marsh 3) and 39.5% had Suspected Seronegative CD at Marsh 1 (SSCDM1).
- Only one-third of confirmed CD cases were seropositive, and 77% were asymptomatic.
- SSCDM1 patients showed low ferritin, hepcidin, and IgA levels but normal inflammatory markers, suggesting a malabsorption-driven, non-inflammatory mechanism of iron depletion.
- Autoimmune comorbidities, particularly autoimmune thyroiditis, and permissive HLA-DQ2/DQ8 haplotypes were common in both confirmed CD and SSCDM1 groups.
- The study highlights a frequently under-recognized, seronegative, immune-mediated duodenal injury consistent with possible gluten-sensitive enteropathy that may not be detected by standard serological screening.