CHROMOSOME-ABERRATIONS IN CELIAC AND NON-CELIAC ENTEROPATHIES

The frequency of chromosomal aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocyt es was assessed in three groups of children: untreated coeliac disease (n = 20); non-coeliac disease enteropathies (n=15); controls (n = 15) . The mean frequency of aberrant cells and the total number of aberrat ions per 100 metaphases was increased in the coeliac disease group com pared with controls by factors of 5 and 6, respectively (p < 0.01 for both). Aberrant cells and total aberrations were similarly increased i n the non-coeliac disease enteropathy group by a factor of 3.7 in each case (p < 0.05). However, the frequency of aberrations in the two ent eropathy groups was not significantly different. Children with coeliac disease, similar to affected adults, have evidence of increased chrom osomal instability. However, similarly increased chromosomal aberratio ns are seen in children with non-coeliac disease enteropathies, indica ting that the abnormality is not specific for coeliac disease.