RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Thyroid autoimmunity in children with coeliac disease: a prospective survey JF Archives of Disease in Childhood JO Arch Dis Child FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health SP 1038 OP 1041 DO 10.1136/archdischild-2011-300595 VO 96 IS 11 A1 Antonella Diamanti A1 Francesca Ferretti A1 Rinaldo Guglielmi A1 Fabio Panetta A1 Franco Colistro A1 Marco Cappa A1 Antonella Daniele A1 Maria-Sole Basso A1 Cristian Noto A1 Massimo Crisogianni A1 Massimo Castro YR 2011 UL http://adc.bmj.com/content/96/11/1038.abstract AB Background Thyroid autoimmunity (TA) is often associated with coeliac disease (CD). Objective To evaluate, in children and adolescents with CD on a gluten-free diet (GFD): (1) the prevalence of TA; (2) the impact of TA on growth and the need for L-thyroxine (L-T4) treatment, during a longitudinal survey. Method Between January and December 2005, 545 patients with CD, prospectively followed up until December 2007, and 622 controls were screened for TA. Antithyroperoxidase and antithyroglobulin antibodies were assayed and, if positive, serum free tri-iodothyronine, free thyroxine and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) assays and thyroid ultrasound were performed. L-T4 was started if TSH was >5.5 mU/ml at two successive measurements. Results There was no significant difference in TA prevalence between patients with CD on a GFD (10%) and controls (8.2%). Duration of GFD differed significantly in coeliac patients with TA in comparison with those without TA (7.9±0.9 and 10.2±0.3 years, p<0.001), but no significant difference was found for weight and height gain (1.8±1.0 vs 3.7±1.5 and 2.1±1.2 kg/year vs 4.0±1.1 cm/year, respectively). At the end of the follow-up an increase of 7% in the prevalence of patients with CD with TA requiring L-T4 was found. Conclusions TA seems no more common in paediatric and adolescent patients with CD on a GFD than in controls; its clinical evolution does not seem to impact on growth. Therefore, a long-term regular screening programme for thyroid disease may not be necessary for all patients with CD on a GFD, but only for those who are suspected of having thyroid diseases.