Epidemiology of Celiac Disease in Northern Morocco in 2018–2021: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study

Authors

Maroua Haddadi, Biotechnological Laboratory of Microorganisms, Genomics, and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University Abdelmalek EssaadiFollow
Ihsan Mellouki, Department of Hepato Gastroenterology, CHU Tangier, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University Abdelmalek EssaadiFollow
Yousra Benmakhlouf, Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics, Faculty of Technical Sciences of Tangier, University Abdelmalek EssaadiFollow
Adama Diakite, Biotechnological Laboratory of Microorganisms, Genomics, and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University Abdelmalek EssaadiFollow
Aymane Khaili, Biotechnological Laboratory of Microorganisms, Genomics, and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University Abdelmalek EssaadiFollow
Said Barrijal, Biotechnological Laboratory of Microorganisms, Genomics, and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University Abdelmalek EssaadiFollow
Haiat Essalmani, Biotechnological Laboratory of Microorganisms, Genomics, and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University Abdelmalek EssaadiFollow

Abstract

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease caused by gluten. This retrospective cross-sectional study with descriptive and analytical aims was conducted over three years, from 2018 to 2021. The participants were 280 patients diagnosed with celiac disease registered in the Gluten Intolerant and Allergic Association of the North in the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region. The prevalence and incidence of celiac disease in this region were 1/135 and 1/253, respectively. The average age was 21.18 ± 1.13, and the first symptoms appeared between 10 and 25 years. The data showed a female predominance of 68% versus 32% for males, with a male/female sex ratio of 0.45. The clinical signs of celiac disease manifested more in gastrointestinal symptoms. This study obtained data on 22.6% of microcytic hypochromic anemia patients and 40.7% of Helicobacter pylori infections. In addition to celiac disease, the patients showed other pathologies with different rates: repeated spontaneous abortions (2.14%), type 1 diabetes mellitus (1.42%), autism (1.42%), dermatitis herpetiformis (0.72%), cancer(0.72%), and epilepsy (0.35%). Serologically, anti-transglutaminase antibodies were positive in 47.2% of patients. Analyses of histological data from intestinal biopsies from 141 patients were positive in 50.8% of patients. There was a minor correlation between the serological profile and the degree of atrophy.

Recommended Citation

Maroua H, Ihsan M, Yousra B, et al. Epidemiology of Celiac Disease in Northern Morocco in 2018–2021: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study. Kesmas. 2023; 18(5): 49-54
DOI: 10.21109/kesmas.v18isp1.6892
Available at: https://scholarhub.ui.ac.id/kesmas/vol18/iss5/9