Evaluation of siblings togetherness and tissue types in celiac disease

Objective: Celiac disease with genetic predisposition is more likely to be seen in patients' relatives than in the general population. In this study, it is aimed to evaluate our patients with celiac disease and their siblings in this respect. Methods: Hundred and fifty-one patients who were followed up with the diagnosis of celiac disease in our pediatric gastroenterology clinic were evaluated. The number of siblings of patients diagnosed with celiac disease, time of diagnosis between siblings, complaints and celiac serology at the diagnosis, stages of Marsh classification, tissue types of human leukocyte antigen (LILA) were evaluated. Results: Celiac disease was detected in a total 10 siblings of 9 (5.96%) patients. Mean ages of the patients, and their siblings were 6.9 +/- 3.4 and 6.2 +/- 4.4 years, respectively. Two siblings were diagnosed with celiac disease at the same time, in the other patients, the mean duration of diagnosis between the index cases and the siblings was 29 +/- 39.5 months. The most common causes of admission of index cases were abdominal pain and growth retardation, and 40% of the siblings were asymptomatic. Tissue transglutaminase antibody IgA values of the patients and their siblings at the time of diagnosis were >200 RU/ml, endomysial antibodies IgA was 1/100 or >1/100 in 6 patients and 8 siblings. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) tissue types DQA1*05 and/or DQB1*02 were detected in all patients and their siblings. Conclusion: The siblings of all patients diagnosed with celiac disease need to be screened for celiac disease, even if they are asymptomatic.