Coeliac disease: a local perspective

ABSTRACT

This is an audit of upper gastrointertinal [GI] endoscopies done over 8 years to detect cases of coeliac disease. A cohort of 95 patients was selected for distal duodenal biopsy obtained at upper GI endoscopy on the basis of anaemia, diarrhoea, growth retardation and laboratory findings like low calcium and albumin. Forty-four patients were found to have biopsy findings consistent with the presence of coeliac diseasel It is not an uncommon disorder as is generally thought and underdiagnosis in the community may be due to lack of awareness of varied modes of clinical presentation. To arrive at an early diagnosis a higher index of clinical suspicion may be required