Chapter 2. ESPGHAN: 50 Years Memories-The Early Years.

Thirty-six founding members from Europe were present in 1968, when the European Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology (ESGA) had its first meeting in Paris. The aim was to create a forum for presentations and discussions of research activities in paediatric gastroenterology in Europe. At the second meeting of ESGA 1969 in Interlaken, an important landmark was set for all gastroenterologists in the world. In this conference, the first ever criteria for "the Diagnosis of Coeliac Disease" (CD) were established. In 1990, the revised criteria for the diagnosis of CD were published. After the introduction of new noninvasive techniques, like tissue transglutaminase 2-antibodies and the HLADQ2/HLADQ8 determinations in blood, "new" criteria for the diagnosis of CD were published in 2012 by the European society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN). Close collaboration of ESPGHAN and the North American Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition led to mutual meetings. The first combined meeting was 1978 in Paris, followed by meetings in New York, Amsterdam, Houston, and last in Toulouse. The first World Congress of Paediatric Gastroenterology took place in Boston 2000 followed by congresses in Paris, Iguazu, Taipeh, and Toronto. The creation of specialised committees (Nutrition Committees, GI-Committee, and Hepatology-Committee) enabled the society to elaborate numerous guidelines for standards in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases within the subspecialties. The Journal of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, as organ of ESPGHAN and the North American Society of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition since 1991, serves as the voice for these worldwide accepted guidelines. Growing educational activities with summer schools, the Young Investigator Forum and the creation of working groups have distributed our current knowledge among the younger generation and led to fruitful reports, guidelines, and syllabus. In 1992, ESPGHAN was 1 of the founding 7 members of the United European Gastroenterology Federation (UEGF), which developed into a successful organisation for gastroenterology in Europe. This year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of ESPGHAN at our annual Meeting in Geneva.

Chapter 8. 50 Years of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN): Captivating Witness Reports of a Success Story.

Since the conception of an idea of a few paediatric gastroenterologists in Europe to create a society for Paediatric Gastroenterology in 1967, and its foundation in 1968, half a century has passed. The European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) now celebrates its 50th anniversary and its utmost success in combining clinical and scientific expertise in the fields of paediatric gastroenterology, haepatology, and nutrition. To describe this success story 14 of the still living presidents of ESPGHAN recount their impressions of the steady growth of ESPGHAN with all the historical facets from their own points of view. This historical view of ESPGHAN over the last 5 decades provides personal accounts of the development of all activities and creations of this great European Society. The Society started as a small family of experts in the field into a global working open society involved in a large variety of activities within the subspecialties, becoming a leading organisation in Europe and beyond. This unique view gives also a wonderful insight into the famous clinicians and researchers from all over Europe who have helped in the growth and development of ESPGHAN. By describing all these activities and collaborations it becomes clear that this astonishing pan-European enterprise was achieved by people who put considerable effort and time into the development of this society. Their statements serve as a historical source and reference for future evaluation of the first 50 years of ESPGHAN. In depicting different time episodes, and by assembling all the historical pieces of a puzzle together, the statements help to illustrate how a highly structured society such as ESPGHAN has evolved over the last 50 years, for what it stands for today and what is to be expected in the future.

Presentation of Celiac Disease in Finnish Children Is No Longer Changing: A 50-Year Perspective.

OBJECTIVES: To chart trends in the presentation of celiac disease in a large cohort of Finnish children diagnosed over a period of 48 years. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical and serologic data, severity of small-bowel mucosal damage, and presence of associated conditions were gathered from 596 children diagnosed with celiac disease in 1966-2013. The children were divided into 4 groups based on the year of diagnosis (before 1980, 1980-1999, 2000-2009, and 2010-2013), and the variables were compared between the periods. The incidence of celiac disease autoimmunity in 2001-2013 was calculated based on the number of new antibody-positive cases in each year. RESULTS: Age at diagnosis rose from median 4.3 years before 1980 to between 7.6 and 9.0 years in the later periods. The severity of clinical presentation, in general, became milder and poor growth less common during the entire study period of 50 years. Percentages of children with classical gastrointestinal presentation decreased, and those with atypical or subclinical presentation increased after the 1990s, these changes leveling off in 2000-2013. Similarly, the severity of small-bowel mucosal damage was milder after the 1990s. The incidence of celiac disease autoimmunity increased in the early 2000s but then fluctuated without a clear trend. There were no significant secular changes in sex distribution, presence of anemia, levels of celiac antibodies, or celiac disease-associated conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical and histologic presentation of celiac disease in children became milder, especially in the 1980s and 1990s. However, most of these changes have reached a plateau in recent years.