Transient glutenopathy and abdominal tuberculosis ; a cause or effect ? : preliminary report

Abstract EN

Introduction : Tuberculosis remains an important disease worldwide.

It is difficult to estimate its incidence in children.

The association between intestinal tuberculosis and glutenopathy was not reported before.

Methodology : Three hundred patients who presented with chronic diarrhea to Gaafar Ibn Auf Specialized Children Hospital, Khartoum Sudan were investigated for intestinal tuberculosis and glutenopathy.

The children were divided into two groups both were put on treatment for tuberculosis.

However, one group was put on gluten free diet as well.

The serological markers and intestinal biopsies were taken initially, six months after commencement of treatment and six months later.

Also their clinical response to treatment was encountered.

Result : Out of the 300 children who presented with chronic diarrhea, 30 were diagnosed to have intestinal tuberculosis.

Their ages ranged between 2-10years.

At commencement of the study all the patients [30] had positive IgA and IgG antigliadin antibodies and anti tTG (table 1).

The group which was put on gluten free diet showed rapid clinical, biochemical and histological response.

Conclusion : Despite the limitation of this preliminary study ; we can conclude that ITB can cause transient glutenopathy and gluten free diet may facilitate clinical recovery in patients with ITB.