ABSTRACT Introduction: Celiac disease is a multisystemic autoimmune disease that mainly affects the small intestine. Selective Immunoglobulin A deficiency is the most common primary immunodeficiency in the general population, with an incidence of 1%. It is estimated that it affects 2%-3% of celiac disease and 6.5% of patients with this deficit have celiac disease, observing the important association between both. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of selective Immunoglobulin A deficiency in celiac patients. Describe the clinical, serological, and histological presentation and its association with autoimmune diseases. Materials and methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive, and retrospective study in celiac patients with Immunoglobulin A dosing in the period from March 2005 to March 2020, at the Gastroenterology Clinic, Hospital de Clínicas, Montevideo-Uruguay. Results: 343 patients were included. Seven patients presented selective Immunoglobulin A deficiency (2%). All were female with a mean age of 20 years (4-36). Selective total immunoglobulin A deficiency was observed in 6 patients (85%) and only 1 (15%) had partial deficiency. Tissue transglutaminase antibody immunoglobulin A and antiendomysium antibody were negative in patients with selective total immunoglobulin A deficiency and positive in those with partial deficiency. All presented villous atrophy, gastrointestinal symptoms, and a lower incidence of autoimmune diseases compared to the reference literature. Conclusions: The prevalence of selective immunoglobulin A deficiency in this celiac population (2%) is similar to that reported in other populations, reaffirming the importance of including immunoglobulin A dosing for the diagnosis of CD.

RESUMEN Introducción: La enfermedad celíaca es una enfermedad autoinmune, multisistémica que afecta principalmente el intestino delgado. La deficiencia selectiva de Inmunoglobulina A es la inmunodeficiencia primaria más frecuente en la población general, con incidencia de 1%. Se estima que afecta a 2%-3% de celíacos y 6,5% de los pacientes con este déficit presentan enfermedad celíaca, observando la importante asociación entre ambas. Objetivos: Determinar la prevalencia de deficiencia selectiva de Inmunoglobulina A en celíacos. Describir la presentación clínica, serológica, histológica y su asociación con enfermedades autoinmunes. Materiales y métodos: Estudio transversal, descriptivo y retrospectivo en pacientes celíacos con dosificación de Inmunoglobulina A en el período de marzo 2005 hasta marzo 2020, en la Clínica de Gastroenterología, Hospital de Clínicas, Montevideo-Uruguay. Resultados: De los 343 pacientes incluídos, siete pacientes presentaron deficiencia selectiva de Inmunoglobulina A, observando una prevalencia de 2%. Todos fueron de sexo femenino con edad media de 20 años (4-36). La deficiencia selectiva de inmunoglobulina A total se observó en 6 pacientes (85%) y solo 1 (15%) presentó deficiencia parcial. El anticuerpo antitransglutaminasa tisular inmunoglobulina A y anticuerpo antiendomisio fueron negativos en pacientes con deficiencia selectiva de inmunoglobulina A total y positivos en aquellos con deficiencia parcial. Todos presentaron atrofia vellositaria, síntomas gastrointestinales y menor incidencia de enfermedades autoinmunes en comparación a la literatura de referencia. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de deficiencia selectiva de inmunoglobulina A en esta población de celíacos (2%) es similar a la reportada en otras poblaciones, reafirmando la importancia de incluir la dosificación de inmunoglobulina A en el diagnóstico de la EC.

OBJECTIVES: To study potentially traumatic events (PTE), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression, somatization and post-migration living difficulties (PMLD) in primary care immigrants. DESIGN: Patients self-rated transculturally validated questionnaires. Those with and without PTSD were compared on all variables. The influence of the number of PTE and of PMLD on PTSD was measured. RESULTS: 391 patients completed the questionnaires. Prevalence of PTSD was 10.2%. PTE and PMLD were frequent in the whole sample but more common in PTSD subjects. Either the number of PTE and of PMLD significantly increased the likelihood to have a PTSD. CONCLUSIONS: PTE, PMLD, PTSD and related conditions (anxiety, depression and somatization) are frequent among immigrants in primary care, and either PTE and PMLD significantly influence resulting psychopathology. The implications in clinical practice are discussed.

The role of post-migration living difficulties (PMLD) on somatization was studied in 101 first generation immigrants visited in primary care. Premigratory traumas and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were also assessed. About one third of patients somatized. Sociodemographic variables were similar in somatizers and non-somatizers. Premigratory traumas, PTSD and the likelihood to report at least one serious or very serious PMLD were higher in somatizers. Four kinds of PMLD were more frequent in somatizers: worries about unavailability of health assistance, working problems, discrimination and poor social help. Traumas and PTSD influenced the effect of PMLD on somatization. Findings suggest that in specific samples of primary care immigrants severe premigratory traumas increase the sensitivity to PMLD and in turn distress due to PMLD amplifies the tendency to somatize.

Lo studio valuta il ruolo delle difficoltà di vita post-migratorie (PMLD) in 101 immigrati visitati in medicina generale. Sono stati considerati anche i traumi premigratori e il disturbo post-traumatico da stress (PTSD). Circa un terzo dei pazienti somatizza. Le variabili sociodemografiche sono simili tra somatizzatori e non. I traumi premigratori, il PTSD e la probabilità di avere almeno una PMLD grave o molto grave sono aumentati nei somatizzatori. Nei somatizzatori sono più frequenti quattro tipi di PMLD: paura di non ricevere assistenza medica, difficoltà lavorative, discriminazione e scarsa assistenza sociale. I traumi e il PTSD influenzano l'effetto delle PMLD sulle somatizzazioni. I risultati suggeriscono che, in campioni specifici di immigrati visitati in medicina generale, gravi traumi premigratori aumentino la sensibilità alle PMLD e che il disagio dovuto alle PMLD amplifichi la tendenza a somatizzare.