Increased prevalence of coeliac disease in diabetes.

A total of 215 diabetic children were screened for coeliac disease by determination of class specific serum reticulin antibody. Nine children were positive for reticulin antibody and all underwent biopsy of the small intestine. Four new cases of coeliac disease were found; all of these children had IgA reticulin antibody. Two of three other children with a low titre of IgA reticulin antibody had partial villous atrophy. It was concluded that IgA class reticulin antibody was a good marker of coeliac disease in diabetic children. The prevalence of coeliac disease in these children was 1:43 (including one previously diagnosed case) and we suggest that diabetic children be screened routinely for reticulin antibody.