Prevalence of anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies in patients with irritable bowel syndrome in Duhok city

Abstract

Abstract Background Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder; celiac disease is an autoimmune enteropathy that can mimic any functional gastrointestinal disorder. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of celiac disease antibodies (anti Tissue Transglutaminase—tTG) in patients with irritable bowel syndrome. Patients and methods This cross sectional study was conducted on 70 patients with irritable bowel syndrome fulfilling Rome III criteria who visited Azadi Teaching Hospital in Duhok city—Iraq. Patients were classified according to irritable bowel syndrome subtypes into: Diarrhoea Predominant (D-IBS), Constipation Predominant (C-IBS) and Mixed (M-IBS). IgA and IgG anti tTG were used to screen patients for celiac disease. Results A total number of 70 patients (44 females and 26 males) were included; their mean age was 33 years (SD ± 7.64). Five patients (7.1%) were found to have positive both IgA and IgG anti tTG. Three of them have had D-IBS and the other two had C-IBS. No one of the M-IBS patients tested positive. Conclusion The prevalence of anti tTG antibodies in irritable bowel syndrome is high. Patients with D-IBS should be screened for celiac disease.