Prevalence of coeliac disease was assessed among 100 autoimmune liver disease patients in Iran and compared it with the prevalence in healthy individuals. The study also sought to determine if rates of celiac disease among autoimmune liver patients had been evaluated in Western populations. Among Iranian participants in the study, elevated prevalence of coeliac disease (10-15%) was observed compared to the general population (0.1-1%). To a lesser extent, the prevalence was high in patients with autoimmune hepatitis (2-4%). In our systematic review, prevalence of coeliac disease in autoimmune hepatitis in the majority of studies was 4% or more; several studies also reported such prevalence in primary biliary cirrhosis. CONCLUSIONS: Since coeliac disease is common among patients with autoimmune liver disease, screening autoimmune liver disease patients for coeliac disease is indicated. Although the magnitude of benefit from a gluten-free diet in reversing autoimmune liver disease in patients with coeliac disease is controversial, it may reduce the risk of further complications of coeliac disease. (Dig Liver Dis. 2010 Sep;42(9):620-3.) PMID: 20236872
