We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
A Reassessment of Splenic Hypofunction in Celiac Disease.
- Authors
Corazza, Gino Roberto; Zoli, Giorgio; Di Sabatino, Antonio; Ciccocioppo, Rachele; Gasbarrini, Giovanni
- Abstract
Objectives: Because there is controversy regarding the prevalence, familial occurrence, and possible factors inducing splenic hypofunction in celiac disease, we have reassessed them in a large series of untreated patients and their first-degree relatives. Methods: Pitted red cell counting was used to measure splenic function and the effect that age at diagnosis has on it, while severity of intestinal lesions and nutritional status were estimated by multiple linear regression analysis. Moreover, serum tuftsin activity was assayed by measuring its ability to stimulate phagocytosis of opsonized Staphylococcus aureus. Results: We found that 32.8% of untreated celiacs and none of their relatives had pitted red cell values in the range of splenic hypofunction (>4%). Only age at diagnosis, but not the other two covariates, was significantly associated with the degree of splenic hypofunction. Tuftsin activity was depressed in celiac disease and this reduction was significantly greater in hyposplenic patients. Conclusions: In celiac disease the prevalence of splenic hypofunction is lower than formerly believed. The duration of preexposure to gluten is a crucial factor for the prevalence and severity of this complication that does not affect celiac relatives. In celiac disease splenic hypofunction is accompanied by a reduced phagocyte activity linked to the decreased release of tuftsin.
- Subjects
CELIAC disease; SPLEEN; FAMILIAL diseases; PHAGOCYTOSIS; ERYTHROCYTES; GLUTEN
- Publication
American Journal of Gastroenterology (Springer Nature), 1999, Vol 94, Issue 2, p391
- ISSN
0002-9270
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/j.1572-0241.1999.00865.x