NEW YORK—Patients with celiac disease, lesser degrees of celiac disease-related symptoms, such as intestinal inflammation or latent celiac disease, have an increased risk of death, according to a new study (JAMA. 2009;302(11):1225-1226)
Researchers reviewed biopsies of diseased tissue taken between July 1969 and February 2008 in Sweden to examine the overall risk of death in individuals with celiac disease and inflammation. Data from the biopsies was divided into three groups: celiac disease (n = 29,096); inflammation (n = 13,306); and individuals with latent celiac disease, (n = 3,719). Latent celiac disease was defined as positive celiac disease serology in individuals with normal intestinal mucosa.
There were 3,049 deaths among patients with celiac disease, 2,967 deaths in patients with inflammation and 183 deaths with latent celiac disease. The researchers found that the risk of death was increased in all three groups, with patients with inflammation having a 72 percent increased risk of death; patients with celiac disease, a 39 percent increased risk; and patients with latent celiac disease having a 35 percent increased risk.