"The crackers challenge": A reassuring low-dose gluten challenge in adults on gluten-free diet without proper diagnosis of coeliac disease.

Challenge Coeliac disease Gliadin Gluten Malabsorption

Journal

Digestive and liver disease : official journal of the Italian Society of Gastroenterology and the Italian Association for the Study of the Liver
ISSN: 1878-3562
Titre abrégé: Dig Liver Dis
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 100958385

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
22 Mar 2024
Historique:
received: 28 10 2023
revised: 09 12 2023
accepted: 01 03 2024
medline: 24 3 2024
pubmed: 24 3 2024
entrez: 23 3 2024
Statut: aheadofprint

Résumé

Gluten-free diet (GFD) is the one therapy in coeliac disease (CeD). Unfortunately, some patients adopt GFD before the diagnostic work-up. The guidelines suggest a 14-day gluten intake > 3 gr to get CeD diagnosis, although many subjects refuse this approach. Other evidence showed that the intake of 50 mg/day of gluten for 3 months could be useful for CeD diagnosis. We performed a dietary study, administering a low dose of gluten in form of "crackers" (about 60-120 mg of gluten/day) for 3 months, to get a final diagnosis of CeD in subjects already on GFD. We enrolled adult patients with a suspicion of CeD on self-prescribed GFD. All subjects performed the crackers challenge for 3 months. At the end, all patients were analysed for CeD serology and if positive underwent endoscopy/histology. Also, we recorded the grade of satisfaction for the gluten challenge and the onset of adverse events. We enrolled 120 patients. All patients concluded the challenge without relevant adverse events. Serological positivity was detected in 54 patients (45%). Histology showed atrophy in 87% and Marsh 1-2 grade in 13% of patients. Ninety-nine patients (83%) were satisfied by this challenge. The "crackers challenge" is a useful and safe diagnostic approach in people on self-administered GFD.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND BACKGROUND
Gluten-free diet (GFD) is the one therapy in coeliac disease (CeD). Unfortunately, some patients adopt GFD before the diagnostic work-up. The guidelines suggest a 14-day gluten intake > 3 gr to get CeD diagnosis, although many subjects refuse this approach. Other evidence showed that the intake of 50 mg/day of gluten for 3 months could be useful for CeD diagnosis.
AIMS OBJECTIVE
We performed a dietary study, administering a low dose of gluten in form of "crackers" (about 60-120 mg of gluten/day) for 3 months, to get a final diagnosis of CeD in subjects already on GFD.
METHODS METHODS
We enrolled adult patients with a suspicion of CeD on self-prescribed GFD. All subjects performed the crackers challenge for 3 months. At the end, all patients were analysed for CeD serology and if positive underwent endoscopy/histology. Also, we recorded the grade of satisfaction for the gluten challenge and the onset of adverse events.
RESULTS RESULTS
We enrolled 120 patients. All patients concluded the challenge without relevant adverse events. Serological positivity was detected in 54 patients (45%). Histology showed atrophy in 87% and Marsh 1-2 grade in 13% of patients. Ninety-nine patients (83%) were satisfied by this challenge.
CONCLUSIONS CONCLUSIONS
The "crackers challenge" is a useful and safe diagnostic approach in people on self-administered GFD.

Identifiants

pubmed: 38521669
pii: S1590-8658(24)00305-0
doi: 10.1016/j.dld.2024.03.004
pii:
doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article

Langues

eng

Sous-ensembles de citation

IM

Informations de copyright

Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

Conflict of interest None.

Auteurs

Antonio Rispo (A)

Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, School of Medicine "Federico II" of Naples, Italy. Electronic address: antonio.rispo2@unina.it.

Alessia Dalila Guarino (AD)

Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, School of Medicine "Federico II" of Naples, Italy.

Monica Siniscalchi (M)

Department of Medicine, Surgery, and Dentistry, Scuola Medica Salernitana, University of Salerno, Baronissi, Italy; Gastroenterology Unit, AOU San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d'Aragona, Salerno, Italy.

Nicola Imperatore (N)

Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, P.O. Santa Maria Delle Grazie, Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy.

Antonella Santonicola (A)

Department of Medicine, Surgery, and Dentistry, Scuola Medica Salernitana, University of Salerno, Baronissi, Italy; Gastroenterology Unit, AOU San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d'Aragona, Salerno, Italy.

Simona Ricciolino (S)

Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, P.O. Santa Maria Delle Grazie, Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy.

Roberto de Sire (R)

Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, School of Medicine "Federico II" of Naples, Italy.

Benedetta Toro (B)

Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, School of Medicine "Federico II" of Naples, Italy.

Nicola Mattia Cantisani (NM)

Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, School of Medicine "Federico II" of Naples, Italy.

Carolina Ciacci (C)

Department of Medicine, Surgery, and Dentistry, Scuola Medica Salernitana, University of Salerno, Baronissi, Italy; Gastroenterology Unit, AOU San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d'Aragona, Salerno, Italy.

Classifications MeSH