Coeliac disease linked to increased risk of solid organ transplantation

Individuals with coeliac disease have about a threefold increased likelihood of solid organ transplantation, according to a study.

Researchers conducted a population-based matched cohort study in Sweden using the nationwide histopathology cohort ESPRESSO. They included 41,277 individuals with coeliac disease and 196,863 age- and sex-matched comparators in the analyses.

The main objective was to determine the frequency of solid organ transplantation (liver, heart, kidney, and lung) in coeliac disease patients and estimate the risk relative to the general population.

Over a mean follow-up of 12.1 years, a total of 85 solid organ transplantations were recorded among patients with coeliac disease as opposed to 111 among matched comparators. The corresponding incidence rate of solid organ transplantation was 17 vs 4.6 per 100,000 person-years.

In Cox proportional hazards models, coeliac disease was associated with an almost threefold higher risk of solid organ transplantation (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 2.76, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.96–3.89).

Looking at specific organs, the risk increase was observed for liver transplantation (HR, 7.26, 95 percent CI, 3.88–13.56) and kidney transplantation (HR, 1.85, 95 percent CI, 1.11–3.10). The risk of heart transplantation was not significant.

More studies are needed to examine the pathophysiological association between coeliac disease and end-stage organ disease.