The American Journal of Gastroenterology published the results of a recent study which demonstrates a strong bidirectional association between celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which could provide indications for patient diagnosis and therapy.

After a year of post-diagnosis follow-up, researchers discovered that celiac disease patients had nearly 4-fold greater risk of IBD, while IBD patients had more than 5-fold increased risk of celiac disease.

The study included data from 48,000 celiac disease patients and more than 83,000 IBD patients identified between 1969 and 2016 and compared to a general population control group. In the celiac disease group, 784 patients were also diagnosed with IBD, compared to 1015 in the control group. The hazard ratio (HR) for IBD in celiac disease patients was 3.91. (95 % CI, 3.56-4.31). Crohns disease (HR, 4.36; 95 % CI, 3.72-5.11) and ulcerative colitis 3.40; 95% CI, 3.00-3.85) had similar HRs.

In contrast, celiac disease was detected in 644 patients with IBD and 597 in the control group. In patients with IBD, the HR for celiac disease was 5.49. (95 % CI, 4.90-6.16). Ulcerative colitis had the maximum risk estimates (HR, 6.99; 95 % CI, and 6.07-8.05). Crohns disease had an HR of 3.31. (95 %CI, 2.69-4.06)

Thus, a substantial bidirectional correlation was seen between celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), implying that there may be a link between the genetic risks in the two diseases and that alterations in the microbiome may be at the core of the risk for both diseases. (Medscape - Jun 09, 2022.)