Genetic and dental study of patients with celiac disease

Objectives: The aim of this work was to study the pattern of inheritance of celiac disease in a group of Saudi patients and to compare oral mucosal and dental clinical findings in these patients to those of healthy controls. Study design: Fifty patients suffering from celiac disease were screened for dental evaluation. They were subjected to clinical genetic examination, pedigree construction, oral mucosal and dental clinical evaluation. Results: An autosomal recessive mode of inheritance was evident in some of the studied cases, while others showed sporadic occurrence. Oral mucosal and dental clinical examinations revealed recurrent oral ulcerations, enamel hypoplasia in most of the celiac disease patients. Conclusions: Pedigree analysis of families is important to identify the mode of inheritance. Oral mucosal and dental clinical examinations are important in diagnosing and monitoring cases of celiac disease.