Coeliac disease in Sudanese children with clinical features suggestive of the disease.

Our prospective hospital-based study examined frequency, clinical presentation and serological indicators of coeliac disease that correlated with intestinal biopsy among high-risk Sudanese children. From July 2001 to July 2002, 80 children aged 15 months-18 years presented with poor appetite, weight loss, pallor and proximal muscle wasting. We diagnosed coeliac disease in 18 (22.5%). Antigliadin antibodies (AGA-IgG, AGA-IgA or both) were high in 44; endomysial antibody retest was high in 30. Guardians of 12 children refused consent for biopsy. The other 18 were biopsied: 5 had total villous atrophy, 8 subtotal and 5 partial. All improved with gluten-free diet. Degree of villous atrophy did not correlate with diarrhoea duration or severity, anaemia severity or serological titres.