Background/aims: Celiac disease has a large prevalence worldwide. There are a limited number of comparable epidemiological data for celiac disease in Turkey. The aim of this preliminary study was to determine the prevalence of celiac disease in a sample of 1000 Turkish children by a novel, simple, and visual one-step immunoassay screening test.

Methods: This prospective study consisted of 1000 serum samples from apparently healthy children and children with disorders other than celiac disease aged between 2-18 years who presented as outpatients at Ankara University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics. Sera were tested for IgA-class antibodies against human tissue transglutaminase and gliadin by rapid immunochromatographic line immunoassay. Endomysial antibody IgA against human tissue transglutaminase and AGA IgA/IgG were also tested by ELISA as a second step when the result of the screening test was positive. Small bowel biopsy was recommended to all the children with positive anti-tissue transglutaminase and/or endomysial antibody results.

Results: Ten of the 1000 individuals (1%) had positive antibody screening test to human tissue transglutaminase. All tissue transglutaminase-positive samples revealed good correlation with endomysial antibody by ELISA method. Subsequently small bowel biopsy was performed in all serology-positive cases. Biopsy results confirmed a diagnosis of celiac disease in nine cases. The prevalence of biopsy- proven celiac disease was 1:111 (0.9%).

Conclusions: Determination of anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies by simple visual system for celiac disease appeared to be as reliable as the ELISA system. It is easy to perform and interpret, cost-effective, and rapid, as pointed out in other previous studies, as a screening test in large population-based studies. The prevalence of celiac disease in the overall sample of Turkish children (1:111 or 0.9%) in this preliminary study is similar to that reported in European and Middle Eastern countries and the United States.