BACKGROUND: Several studies have demonstrated changes in the forms of clinical presentation of celiac disease in children and adults, with an increased occurrence of atypical forms. AIM: To determine this fact in Clinical Hospital, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. METHODS: Celiac patients were studied over two different periods of time, from January 1978 to December 1987 (group 1 = G1) and from January 1988 to December 1997 (group 2 = G2). Time of disease, age at diagnosis and nutritional status and clinical forms were investigated. The typical form was considered to be present if the patient had at least two of the following signs/symptoms: diarrhea, abdominal distention, and weight loss, associated or not with others. RESULTS: Clinical forms (%) - G1: typical 57.14 and atypical 42.85. G2: typical 55.18 and atypical 44.82. Median age at diagnosis: 23 months (G1) and 21 months (G2). Interval between the onset of symptoms and the diagnosis: 13 months (G1) and 11 months (G2). Gomez nutritional status G1: Eutrophy = 23.8, DI = 47.61, DII = 23.8 and DIII = 4.76. G2: Eutrophy = 20.68, DI = 48.27, DII = 27.58 and DIII = 3.44. Waterloo G1: Eutrophy = 23.8, Wasting = 14.28, Stunting = 28.57 and Chronic = 33.33. G2: Eutrophy = 20.68, Wasting = 13.79, Stunting = 34.48 and Chronic = 31.03. No statistically significant differences occurred between the groups for any of these parameters. CONCLUSIONS: No change in the forms of presentation or remaining clinical characteristics of celiac disease occurred in our service. This may be due to the population characteristics or to differences among health services, or to different periods of observation.
Celiac disease; Diarrhea; Protein-energy malnutrition
