Outcomes of Seropositive Patients With Marsh 1 Histology in Clinical Practice.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether patients with positive celiac serologies and Marsh 1 histology should adopt a gluten-free diet (GFD) by evaluating their clinical, serological, and histologic outcomes.
Results Summary
Among patients advised to adopt GFD, 88.9% improved symptomatically and 95% normalized serology, while those who continued gluten consumption remained symptomatic (85.7%) and had persistently positive serologies (80%). Histologic improvement was observed in all GFD patients who underwent repeat biopsy, whereas untreated patients showed progression to more severe histologic damage.
Population
Patients with positive celiac serologies and Marsh 1 histology seen at two tertiary care hospitals over 15 years.
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
gluten-free diet (GFD) | decrease | symptoms | patients with positive celiac serology and Marsh 1 lesions | 88.9% | improved symptomatically | #1 |
gluten-free diet (GFD) | decrease | serology | patients with positive celiac serology and Marsh 1 lesions | 95% | normalized | #2 |
continued gluten consumption (normal diet) | no change | symptoms | patients with positive celiac serology and Marsh 1 lesions | 85.7% | remained symptomatic | #3 |
continued gluten consumption (normal diet) | no change | serologies | patients with positive celiac serology and Marsh 1 lesions | 80% | had persistently positive | #4 |
continued gluten consumption (normal diet) | no change | histology | patients with positive celiac serology and Marsh 1 lesions | 4 of 5 | had the same or worse | #5 |
continued gluten consumption (normal diet) | increase | Marsh 3c histology | patients with positive celiac serology and Marsh 1 lesions | 3 patients | progressing to | #6 |
gluten-free diet (GFD) | increase | normal histology | patients with positive celiac serology and Marsh 1 lesions | all | improved to | #7 |
GOALS: We retrospectively studied all seropositive Marsh 1 patients seen at 2 tertiary care hospitals in the last 15 years to determine their clinical, serological, and histologic outcomes. BACKGROUND: Patients with positive celiac serologies and Marsh 1 histology represent an understudied subgroup of patients, and it is unclear whether they should be advised to adopt a gluten-free diet (GFD). STUDY: Subjects were identified based on positive celiac serologies and Marsh 1 histology while on a full-gluten diet. Clinical presentation and baseline laboratory data were noted. Clinical course, repeat serologies, and histology were determined. RESULTS: Of 620 patients with positive celiac serologies and abnormal duodenal histology, we identified 36 (5.8%) with positive tissue transglutaminase and/or antiendomysial antibodies and Marsh 1 lesions who had adequate follow-up. Abdominal pain was the commonest (47.2%) presenting symptom. Twenty-eight patients were advised to adopt GFD, whereas 8 were not. Among patients treated with GFD, 88.9% improved symptomatically and 95% normalized serology. In contrast, among patients who continued to consume gluten, 85.7% remained symptomatic and 80% had persistently positive serologies. Among the 8 patients on normal diet, 5 underwent repeat biopsy, and 4 of them had the same or worse histology, with 3 patients progressing to Marsh 3c. Among the 28 patients on GFD, 5 underwent repeat biopsy and all improved to normal histology. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with positive celiac serology and Marsh 1 lesions benefit from GFD and, if not treated, a majority will continue to be symptomatic and remain at risk of progressing to villous atrophy.