Are nonintestinal inflammatory diseases and celiac disease linked?

In their retrospective study, Leonardi and La Rosa (2010) did not find any instances of celiac disease (CD) among hepatitis B virus carrier patients (1). CD is an inflammatory, immune-mediated intestinal disorder triggered by ingested wheat gluten in genetically susceptible individuals (2). Leonardi and La Rosa (2010) found CD antibodies (immunoglobulin A and G antigliadin) in 11.6% of the cases, but no patient had immunoglobulin A antiendomysium or immunoglobulin A antitissue transglutaminase; consequently, a diagnosis of CD was ruled out. Even if a relationship between CD and hepatitis B virus had been present, the study could have been unable to detect a significant association due to the small sample size.