Italian 
English CONTRIBUTI SCIENTIFICI – Scientific Papers
Volume:
Biochimica Clinica 2012; 36(5) 349-357
Pubblicato on-line:
DOI:
Screening della malattia celiaca nei donatori di sangue della provincia di Bergamo: dati preliminari su 18.498 soggetti
AUTORI
1Dipartimento di Medicina di Laboratorio, Ospedali Riuniti di Bergamo
2AVIS Provinciale Bergamo
3Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona
ABSTRACT
Screening of the celiac disease (CD) among blood donors in the Bergamo province: preliminary data on 18.498 subjects.
CD is a common cause of hypoferritinemia and anemia. A high percentage of blood donors from the Bergamo district stopped blood donation because of an iron deficiency. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of CD in this population. From May 2010 to December 2011, 18,498 donors underwent serological
screening with measurement of human anti-recombinant transglutaminase (tTG) IgA and synthetic anti-deamidated gliadin antibodies (AGA DGP) IgG. 440 donors (2.3%) resulted positive either to one or both screening tests. 363 donors showed an isolated positivity for AGA DGP IgG (n=309) or anti-tTG IgA (n=54) and are now following up. 76
(0.4%) were positive for anti-tTG IgA, subsequently confirmed by anti-endomysial antibodies (EMA). A donor was positive for AGA DGP IgG and anti-tTG IgG: the determination of total IgA confirmed the presence of an absolute deficit of IgA. 58 people performed the duodenal biopsy: 95% showed damage to the duodenal mucosa and got a diagnosis of CD. The estimated prevalence of CD was 1:250. Only 10% of individuals were totally asymptomatic; signs and/or symptoms related to CD were often present at the moment of the diagnosis. Our results suggest the need for screening for CD at the time of blood donor enrollment.