Association of celiac disease in patients with multiple sclerosis in Tuscany

Background and study purpose: to describe the comorbidity of celiac disease among a large cohort of multiple sclerosis patients in Tuscany. Methods: the association of celiac disease among multiple sclerosis adult patients (n=2050) was retrospectively evaluated. Results: 13 patients were diagnosed with celiac disease, the female:male ratio was 3.3:1 and the median age at diagnosis was 34.2 years (SD 13). Seventy-seven per cent of subjects complained about gastrointestinal symptoms. IgA anti- transglutaminase was positive in 85 % of cases and there was 70 % of villous atrophy. Conclusions: the frequency of celiac disease among multiple sclerosis patients examined was lower than in the general population (0.6 % vs 1 %) (p = 0.65).