EC Clinical and Medical Case Reports

Background: Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder that is characterized by an inappropriate immune response when gluten is consumed. Hypothyroidism is a commonly observed comorbidity in patients with CD.

Aim: This study aims to determine the prevalence and characteristics of hypothyroidism in pediatric celiac disease patients to understand and improve the screening and management strategies for affected people.

Methods: A retrospective study design was adopted to conduct the study in Kind Abdulaziz Medical City, NGHA, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 55 patients diagnosed with celiac disease were included in this study. A data sheet was used for data collection, and it was managed through proper channels. The data is analyzed by SPSS software.

Results: In the study of 55 pediatric celiac disease patients at King Abdulaziz Medical City, the demographic and clinical characteristics reveal key findings. Females constituted 61.8% (34) of the study, and 45.5% were diagnosed at ages 8 and older. Height analysis showed that 30.9% had low height (≤ 110 cm), 41.8% were of normal height (111 cm to 160 cm), and 7.27% were classified as high height (> 160 cm). Weight distribution was similar, with 38.2% each in low (≤ 20 kg) and normal (20 - 40 kg) weight categories, while 10.9% were of high weight (≥ 40 kg). Hypothyroidism was present in 10.9% of patients, with a higher prevalence (27.2%) in those with a family history of autoimmune conditions. The correlation between gender and hypothyroidism was weak (Pearson’s r = 0.155), suggesting gender does not strongly influence hypothyroidism risk.

Conclusion: Our study reveals a high prevalence of hypothyroidism in pediatric celiac disease patients, particularly impacting females and those with autoimmune family histories. Early thyroid screening is crucial in pediatric CD management due to shared genetic and immunological factors. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to better understand this relationship and improve early screening strategies for enhanced patient care.

 Keywords: Hypothyroidism; Pediatric; Celiac Disease; CD; Autoimmune; Clinical Markers

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