The Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of Celiac Disease Among Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Zanjan Province, Iran

Background: There are some overlaps between celiac disease and irritable bowel syndrome symptoms (IBS). It can lead to misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of celiac disease. In some guidelines, it is recommended to screen for celiac in IBS cases. For assessment of the necessity for such diagnostic approaches in patients, this study was done to evaluate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of celiac disease among IBS cases in Zanjan, Iran. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 121 cases with IBS attending to gastroenterology clinics since 2015 to 2018 were enrolled. The laboratory tests and upper digestive endoscopy were performed for all patients. Endoscopic biopsy specimens were taken from the duodenum, and the samples were examined to confirm diagnosis of celiac disease. Data analysis was done by SPSS software. Results: Of 121 studied patients, 51.2% were male. The mean age of the patients was 36.65 ± 10.09 years old. The most common IBS subtype was mixed (80.2%). According to the serology results and Marsh grading, 4.1% and 1.6% had celiac disease and potential celiac disease, respectively. There were statistically significant differences among celiac disease in gastroesophageal reflux disease and abdominal discomfort/cramping. Conclusion: The incidence of celiac disease was evaluated 4.1 cases per each 100 patients with IBS, which was higher than recent similar studies, and screening for celiac disease in these patients is advisable. However, further studies with larger sample size are required to attain more definite results.