Coeliac disease in Croatia

Zrinjka MišakSanja Kolaček

Referral Center for Paediatric Gastroenterology and NutritionChildren’s Hospital Zagreb, Croatia

The national picture of coeliac disease in Croatia

Incidence of clinically recognized CD pts 1:519 (Matek, Kolacek et al, Coll Antropol 1999)

Screening: 1:461 (Jungvirth, Kolacek et al, Acta Med Croat 2001)

Population 4 000 000 Estimation

40 000 CD pts

- number of patients in general is decresing

0

5

10

15

20

25

3019

91

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

2003

2005

2007

2009

2011

>2y

<2y

The National task Force in Croatia

Zrinjka Mišak, Sanja Kolaček – paediatric gastroenterologists, representatives from the Referral Centre for Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition

Ruzica Lah – the president of the National coeliac disease society

Dunja Skoko-Poljak - representative from the Ministry of Health

Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology

The diagnostic guidelines in Croatia

Children <2y of age classic ESPGHAN criteria - 3 biopsies

Children >2y of age revised ESPGHAN criteria - 1 biopsy

Training and dissemination in Croatia

4 university centers

Serology testing, biopsies, HLA genotyping – easily accesible for everyone, expenses covered by obligatory health insurance

ZagrebOsijekRijeka

Split

Coeliac disease societies in Croatia

4 patient societies one National coeliac society (member of

AOECS) with 3 subsidiaries three regional Celiac organizations that act

autonomously and are not under the umbrella of the National society

CD in Croatia – after the diagnosis

After the diagnosis a patient gets written instructions on gluten free diet with

some recepies dietetic consult 10 kg of gluten free flour per month free of

charges (covered by the health insurance) recommendation to join the patients’

society

CD in Croatia - Problems

There is no registry - the exact number of diagnosed pts unknown

Several societies - not collaborating well Awarenes of the problem is low

Thank you for your attention!