POCT FOR DIAGNOSIS OF CELIAC DISEASE IN EGYPTIAN CHILDREN Prof Dr Mona Ahmed Abu Zekry Professor of Pediatrics and Pediatric Gastroenterology Children Hospital – Faculty of Medicine Cairo University

 Patient are selected from Gastroenterology clinic Children Hospital Cairo University.  To screen for Celiac disease using POCT test and compare with the results of serum tTg antibody test as well as biopsy results.  Study started in March 2012.

 Cases included in the study:  Age between 1year to 18 years  Growth Failure  Chronic diarrhea  Vomiting and abdominal discomfort  Unexplained Anemia

Gastroenterology Clinic Children Hospital Cairo University

Examination Room Gastroenterology Clinic

 Staring March 2012 thirty six patients have been screened using the POCT test.  19 females 17 males  Ages 1 to 18 years  The most common complaint was growth failure and chronic diarrhea.

 One patient had positive POCT with positive serology and biopsy for celiac disease.  Two more patients had a positive serum tTG and negative POCT.  The 4 th case (12 years) weight and height below 3 rd percentile, hypochromic microcytic anemia with clinical picture suggestive of Celiac Disease Intestinal biopsy showed short broad villi and focally flatted surface mucosa with intra epithelial lymphocytes.

 The patient who tested positive for celiac disease using POCT was;  Male patient, age 1.5 years old, 7 KG below 3 rd percentile, length was 69 cm below 10 th percentile for age  Serum tTg was positive  Total IgA normal level  Suffered from hypochromic microcytic anemia( Hb 7gm%)  Intestinal biopsy pathological examination showed total atrophy of the lining villi with lymphocytic infiltration.

 Follow up of this patient after 10 weeks on gluten free diet showed an increase of 1.2 kg of weight and 1 cm of length and marked improvement of his general condition.