THE INCIDENCE OF COELIAC DISEASE IN CHILDREN IN SOUTH‐EAST SWEDEN

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Abstract
Among children born between 1969-1977 in 2 areas of southeast Sweden, an initial flat small intestinal mucosa was found in 84 cases, 64 of whom were considered to have celiac disease (CD) which was diagnosed mostly according to the criteria formulated by the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. The incidence of CD was 1/859, which is in agreement with that of a recent report from south Sweden. The incidence of CD is probably the same in the whole of Sweden. All the patients with an initial flat mucosa improved clinically and histologically after 1 yr or more on a gluten-free diet. When challenged with gluten, 19% did not relapse within 2 yr, thus fulfilling the criteria for so-called transient gluten intolerance. These patients had a lower mean age of symptom debut and for 1st biopsy, compared with the patients with CD.