Chlorfenapyr poisoning:mechanisms,clinical presentations,and treatment strategies

BACKGROUND:Chlorfenapyr is used to kill insects that are resistant to organophosphorus insecticides.Chlorfenapyr poisoning has a high mortality rate and is difficult to treat.This article aims to review the mechanisms,clinical presentations,and treatment strategies for chlorfenapyr poisoning.DATA RESOURCES:We conducted a review of the literature using PubMed,Web of Science,and SpringerLink from their beginnings to the end of October 2023.The inclusion criteria were systematic reviews,clinical guidelines,retrospective studies,and case reports on chlorfenapyr poisoning that focused on its mechanisms,clinical presentations,and treatment strategies.The references in the included studies were also examined to identify additional sources.RESULTS:We included 57 studies in this review.Chlorfenapyr can be degraded into tralopyril,which is more toxic and reduces energy production by inhibiting the conversion of adenosine diphosphate to adenosine triphosphate.High fever and altered mental status are characteristic clinical presentations of chlorfenapyr poisoning.Once it occurs,respiratory failure occurs immediately,ultimately leading to cardiac arrest and death.Chlorfenapyr poisoning is diflcult to treat,and there is no specific antidote.CONCLUSION:Chlorfenapyr is a new pyrrole pesticide.Although it has been identified as a moderately toxic pesticide by the World Health Organization(WHO),the mortality rate of poisoned patients is extremely high.There is no specific antidote for chlorfenapyr poisoning.Therefore,based on the literature review,future efforts to explore rapid and effective detoxification methods,reconstitute intracellular oxidative phosphorylation couplings,identify early biomarkers of chlorfenapyr poisoning,and block the conversion of chlorfenapyr to tralopyril may be helpful for emergency physicians in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

Recent Advances for Global Perspectives on Etiology, Pathophysiology, Clinical Presentations, and Management of Moyamoya Disease

Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a condition characterized by the gradual narrowing and blockage of blood vessels in the brain, specifically those in the circle of Willis and the arteries that supply it. This results in reduced blood flow and oxygen to the brain, leading to progressive symptoms and potential complications. The underlying pathophysiological mechanism remains elucidated. However, recent studies have highlighted numerous etiologic factors: abnormal immune complex responses, susceptibility genes, branched-chain amino acids, antibodies, heritable diseases, and acquired diseases, which may be the great potential triggers for the development of moyamoya disease. Its clinical presentation has varying degrees from transient asymptomatic events to significant neurological deficits. Moyamoya disease (MMD) shows different patterns in children and adults. Children with MMD are more susceptible to ischemic events due to decreased blood flow to the brain. Conversely, adults with MMD are more prone to hemorrhagic events involving brain bleeding. Children with MMD may experience a range of symptoms including motor impairments, sensory issues, seizures, headaches, dizziness, cognitive delays, or ongoing neurological problems. Although adults may present with similar clinical symptoms as children, they are more prone to experiencing sudden onset intraventricular, subarachnoid, or intracerebral hemorrhages. One of the challenges in moyamoya disease is the potential for misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis, particularly when physicians fail to consider MMD as a possible cause in stroke patients. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent global studies on the pathophysiology of MMD, along with advancements in its management. Additionally, the review will delve into various surgical treatment options for MMD, as well as its rare occurrence alongside atrioventricular malformations. Exciting prospects include the use of autologous bone marrow transplant and the potential role of Connexin 43 protein treatment in the development of moyamoya disease.

Clinical Presentation and Treatment Outcomes of Pregnancy-Related Acute Kidney Injury among Pregnant Women Admitted at the Benjamin Mkapa Hospital in Tanzania

Background: Globally, PRAKI is among the leading causes of death in pregnant women. The prevalence, causes and outcome of this condition vary among countries due to differences in environmental, socioeconomic, and health delivery systems. The common causes that have been reported in several studies are PIH, Haemorrhages and Sepsis while the outcomes may be either complete renal recovery, progression to CKD and hence dialysis dependency or death. This study aimed at determining clinical presentation and treatment outcomes of Pregnancy-Related Acute Kidney Injury in Pregnant women admitted at the Benjamin Mkapa Hospital, Dodoma, Tanzania. Results: Out of 4007 pregnant women who were admitted to the maternity ward 51 pregnant women were found to have PRAKI. Of those with PRAKI, 74.5% were between 21 to 25 years. The leading causes of PRAKI were PPH 12 (23.53%), Eclampsia 12 (23.53%), and pre-eclampsia 12 (23.5%). Hemodialysis therapy was provided to 22 (43.1%) patients, 15 (29.4%) individuals recovered spontaneously with medical management and 14 (27.5%) missed haemodialysis therapy due to various reasons. The mortality due to PRAKI was 17 (33.3%). Conclusion and Recommendation: Pre-eclampsia/eclampsia and post-partum haemorrhage were found to be the main causes of PRAKI. The mortality related to PRAKI is high and Hemodialysis therapy is vital help to prevent deaths for pregnant women with PRAKI. Pregnant women who develop acute kidney injury should be followed closely and a nephrologist should be consulted early. Early referral should be done by the lower level facilities for all at-risk pregnant women to a specialized multidisciplinary health facility.

Clinical Presentation, Management and Materno-Fetal Outcome of Patients with HELLP Syndrome at the Yaoundé Gyneco-Obstetrics and Pediatric Hospital

Background: HELLP (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes and Low Platelets) syndrome is a common complication of severe preeclampsia, with a high maternal and perinatal mortality rate. Data on HELLP syndrome is scanty in our setting. We sought to study the clinical presentation, management, and materno-fetal outcome of patients with HELLP syndrome at the Yaoundé Gyneco-Obstetrics and Pediatric Hospital (YGOPH). Methods: This was a cross-sectional, analytical study with a retrospective data collection of patients, diagnosed with HELLP syndrome at the YGOPH between 1st January 2020 and 31st July 2021. Data were analyzed using the software R version 4.0.2. Results are presented as mean ± standard deviation, frequencies and percentages. P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Of 254 cases of severe preeclampsia, 17 developed HELLP syndrome, giving us a frequency of 6.7%. One patient who presented with hepatitis B was excluded. The mean age was 27.19 ± 6.44 years. Most patients (56.3%) had poor follow up during antenatal contacts. The most common symptom was headache (93.8%). Most cases (56.3%) were diagnosed during post-partum, prepartum (25.0%), and per partum (18.8%). Obstetrical management was done by cesarean section (62.5%) and vaginal delivery (37.5%). Post-partum management of HELLP syndrome consisted of antihypertensive medication, anticonvulsants, sedatives, transfusion of blood and blood products, and fluid resuscitation. Of the 50% of patients who presented with acute kidney injury, only 12.5% (1) were referred for dialysis. Over 50% of our study participants presented severe complications after delivery, but 43.8% recovered, while 56.2% finally died. The fetal outcome was: still birth (31.2%), intra-uterine growth restriction/low birth weight (12.5%), term delivery (≥37 weeks) (31.3%), and preterm deliveries (<37 weeks) (68.7%). Three (18.8%) of the neonates delivered alive presented with a poor Apgar score at the 5th minute. Conclusion: Although rare, HELLP syndrome exists in our setting. Proper management in appropriate centers is key to improving maternal and fetal outcomes.

Clinical presentations of gastric small gastrointestinal stromal tumors mimics functional dyspepsia symptoms

AIM: To explore whether clinical presentations of gastric small gastrointestinal tumors (GISTs) mimics gastrointestinal dyspepsia symptoms.

Incidence and clinical presentation of portal vein thrombosis in cirrhotic patients

BACKGROUND: Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is due to many risk factors, but its pathogenesis is still not clearly understood. To identify the risk factors for PVT, we analyzed the clinical characteristics and complications associated with PVT in cir-rhotic patients. METHODS: We studied patients with liver cirrhosis who were admitted to our unit from April 2009 to December 2014. The patients were divided into the PVT and non-PVT groups, and were compared by variables including gender, age, the etiology of cirrhosis, stage of cirrhosis, complications, imaging, and treatment. RESULTS: PVT was found in 45 (9.8%) of 461 cirrhotic pa-tients admitted to our hospital. Most patients (45.9%) had hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related cirrhosis, with a similar dis-tribution of etiologies between the groups. However, there was no positive relationship between PVT and etiologies of cirrhosis. Most patients (71.5%) were in the stage of hepatic decompensation. No statistically signiifcant differences were found in complications including esophageal varices, ascites, and hepatic encephalopathy between the groups. However, there was a signiifcant positive correlation between hepatocel-lular carcinoma (HCC) and PVT (P<0.01). In 30 patients with PVT, thrombosis occurred in the portal vein and/or portal branches, 37.8% were diagnosed on ultrasound. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of PVT was 9.8%, mainly in patients with HBV-related cirrhosis. The development of PVT was associated with the severity of liver disease and HCC.

Acute mechanical bowel obstruction: Clinical presentation, etiology, management and outcome

AIM: To identify and analyze the clinical presentation, management and outcome of patients with acute mechanical bowel obstruction along with the etiology of obstruction and the incidence and causes of bowel ischemia, necrosis, and perforation. METHODS: This is a prospective observational study of all adult patients admitted with acute mechanical bowel obstruction between 2001 and 2002. RESULTS: Of the 150 consecutive patients included in the study, 114 (76%) presented with small bowel and 36 (24%) with large bowel obstruction. Absence of passage of flatus (90%) and/or feces (80.6%) and abdominal distension (65.3%) were the most common symptoms and physical finding, respectively. Adhesions (64.8%), incarcerated hernias (14.8%), and large bowel cancer (13.4%) were the most frequent causes of obstruction. Eighty-eight patients (58.7%) were treated conservatively and 62 (41.3%) were operated (29 on the first day). Bowel ischemia was found in 21 cases (14%), necrosis in 14 (9.3%), and perforation in 8 (5.3%). Hernias, large bowel cancer, and adhesions were the most frequent causes of bowel ischemia (57.2%, 19.1%, 14.3%), necrosis (42.8%, 21.4%, 21.4%), and perforation (50%, 25%, 25%). A significantly higher risk of strangulation was noticed in incarcerated hernias than all the other obstruction causes. CONCLUSION: Absence of passage of flatus and/or feces and abdominal distension are the most common symptoms and physical finding of patients with acute mechanical bowel obstruction, respectively. Adhesions, hernias, and large bowel cancer are the most commoncauses of obstruction, as well as of bowel ischemia, necrosis, and perforation. Although an important proportion of these patients can be nonoperatively treated, a substantial portion requires immediate operation. Great caution should be taken for the treatment of these patients since the incidence of bowel ischemia, necrosis, and perforation is significantly high.

Characteristics and clinical presentations of pediatric 0retinoblastoma in North-western Iran

·AIM:To report the characteristics and clinical presentations of retinoblastoma in a series of pediatric patients from Iran. ·METHODS:In this retrospective study, profiles of pediatric patients with retinoblastoma archived in a referral eye hospital in north-west of Iran during 7 years (n =40 patients with 57 eyes) were reviewed. Demographics, as well as the laterality, clinical manifestations and the types of treatment were the major endpoints. The Student’s t test, Mann-Whitney U -test, Chi-square or Fishers’ Exact test was used for analysis where appropriate. ·RESULTS:There were 23 cases (57.7%) with unilateral and 17 cases (42.5%) with bilateral involvement. The male to female ratio was 1 to 1.4 with a mean admitting age of 24.0±11.3 (range:5-62) months. The mean diagnosis delay was (7.4±9.6) months (range:10 days to 13 months). The most common presenting sign was leukocoria (97.5%) followed by proptosis (7.5%), strabismus (7.5%), hyphema (5%), orbital cellulitis (5%) and glaucoma (2.5%). Enucleation was performed in 95.7% of the cases with unilateral involvement and at least one eye of the patients with bilateral disease. A second enucleation was performed in other 3 patients (17.6%) of the latter group. ·CONCLUSION:This is the first study evaluating a series of Iranian children with retinoblastoma.

Endomysial antibodies predict celiac disease irrespective of the titers or clinical presentation

AIM:To investigate the association between serum antibody levels and a subsequent celiac disease diag-nosis in a large series of children and adults. METHODS:Besides subjects with classical gastrointestinal presentation of celiac disease,the study cohort included a substantial number of individuals with extraintestinal symptoms and those found by screening in at-risk groups.Altogether 405 patients underwent clinical,serological and histological evaluations.After collection of data,the antibody values were further graded as low[endomysial(EmA)1:5-200,transglutaminase 2 antibodies(TG2-ab)5.0-30.0 U/L]and high (EmA 1:≥500,TG2-ab≥30.0 U/L),and the serological results were compared with the small intestinal mucosal histology and clinical presentation. RESULTS:In total,79%of the subjects with low and 94%of those with high serum EmA titers showed small-bowel mucosal villous atrophy.Furthermore, 96%of the 47 EmA positive subjects who had normal mucosal villi and remained on follow-up either subsequently developed mucosal atrophy while on a glutencontaining diet,or responded positively to a glutenfree diet. CONCLUSION:Irrespective of the initial serum titers or clinical presentation,EmA positivity as such is a very strong predictor of a subsequent celiac disease diagnosis.

Primary localized gastric amyloidosis:A scoping review of the literature from clinical presentations to prognosis

Localized gastric amyloidosis(LGA)is a rare disease characterized by abnormal extracellular deposition of amyloid protein restricted to the stomach and it is confirmed by positive results of Congo red staining.Over decades,only a few cases have been reported and studies or research focusing on it are few.Although LGA has a low incidence,patients may suffer a lot from it and require proper diagnosis and management.However,the pathology of LGA remains unknown and no overall review of LGA from its presentations to its prognosis has been published.Patients with LGA are often asymptomatic or manifest atypical symptoms,making it difficult to differentiate from other gastrointestinal diseases.Here,we report the case of a 70-year-old woman with LGA and provide an overview of case reports of LGA available to us.Based on that,we conclude current concepts of clinical manifestations,diagnosis,treatment,and prognosis of LGA,aiming at providing a detailed diagnostic procedure for clinicians and promoting the guidelines of LGA.In addition,a few advanced technologies applied in amyloidosis are also discussed in this review,aiming at providing clinicians with a reference of diagnostic process.With this review,we hope to raise awareness of LGA among the public and clinicians.

Wernicke encephalopathy Clinical presentation and MR images in two nonalcoholic patients

The aim of the present study was to investigate the importance of and correlation between clinical presentations and magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） of two different cases of nonalcoholic Wernicke encephalopathy. Case l ： A 63-year-old man with a diagnosis of incomplete mechanical intestinal obstruction. His abdominal symptoms were improved by gastrointestinal decompression, but blurred vision, hypoacusis, dizziness, and unsteady gait were noted. His illness deteriorated to confusion on day seven. MRI showed hyperintense lesions in the medial thalami, tectum of the midbrain, and the periaqueduct region on T2- and diffusion-weighted images. Thiamine therapy was commenced immediately with good results. Case 2： A 22-year-old woman was admitted for sudden-onset confabulation and unsteady gait after hyperemesis gravidarum. She had no history of alcohol or any medication. Brain MRI was normal. The patient experienced relief after Vitamin B1 treatment. These results suggest that brain MRI can define characteristic abnormalities in Wernicke encephalopathy, and that diffusion-weighted imaging may improve the diagnosis sensitivity. In addition, the MRI images may be correlated to the clinical stage and severity of the disease. Nevertheless, the clinical features are essential for correct diagnosis.

Clinical Presentation of Ovarian Tumors

Ovarian malignancy is a serious disease affecting women of all ages, more so above 50 years, and they are still difficult to treat, partly because no truly effective therapy has yet been developed although presentation is often vague and non-specific, the symptoms are definitely present. It is important to recognize the symptoms so far, there is no test yet available, which is truly specific and suitable for screening and early detection of epithelial ovarian carcinoma. So, it is concluded that for prognosis and patient survival, early detection and treatment is mandatory.

Clinical analysis of Wernicke encephalopathy after liver transplantation

Background:Wernicke encephalopathy(WE)is an acute neurological disease resulting from vitamin B1 deficiency,and there are only very few case reports of WE after liver transplantation.The present study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics,etiology,magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)features,treatment and prognosis of patients with WE after liver transplantation.Methods:Twenty-three patients with WE after liver transplantation from the First Affiliated Hospital,Zhejiang University School of Medicine and Jiangxi Provincial People’s Hospital between January 2011 and December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Among the 23 patients diagnosed with WE after liver transplantation,6(26%)had a classic triad of impaired consciousness,oculomotor palsy and ataxia,and 17(74%)had two features.The misdiagno-sis rate was 65%.After treatment with high-dose vitamin B1,19(83%)patients showed improvement,whereas 4(17%)showed no improvement,including 3 with residual short-term memory impairments and 1 with residual spatial and temporal disorientation and ataxia.Conclusions:The misdiagnosis rate is high in the early stage of WE,and the prognosis is closely asso-ciated with whether WE is diagnosed early and treated timely.High-dose glucose or glucocorticoids can trigger WE and cannot be administered before vitamin B1 treatment.Vitamin B1 is suggested to be used as a prophylactic treatment for patients with WE after liver transplantation.

Far lateral lumbar disc herniation part 1: Imaging, neurophysiology and clinical features

Far lateral lumbar disc herniations(FLLDH)represent a separate category of disc pathology which includes both intraforaminal and extraforaminal lumbar disc herniations,that are characterized by a peculiar clinical presentation,diagnostic and treatment modalities as compared to the more frequent median and paramedian disc hernias.Surgical treatment often represents the only effective weapon for the cure of this disease and over the years different approaches have been developed that can reach the region of the foramen or external to it,with different degrees of invasiveness.The diagnosis is more demanding and still underestimated as it requires a more detailed knowledge in the spine anatomy and dedicated radiological studies.Computerized tomography and in particular magnetic resonance imaging are the appropriate tools for the diagnosis of FLLDH.Despite the widespread use of these diagnostic tests,many cases of FLLDH are overlooked due to insufficiently detailed radiological examinations or due to the execution of exams not focused to the foraminal or the extraforaminal region.Neurophysiological studies represent a valid aid in the diagnostic classification of this pathology and in some cases they can facilitate the differential diagnosis with other types of radiculopathies.In the present study,a comprehensive review of the clinical presentation,epidemiology,radiological study and the neurophysiological aspects is presented.

Pediatric Clinical Features of Covid-19 in Cameroon

Introduction: The Covid-19 pandemic is a public health emergency characterized by severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. It has many clinical forms and affects all age groups. Despite the magnitude of this pandemic, data from pediatric cohorts in Cameroon remain sparse. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the clinical presentation of Covid-19 in the pediatric population of the Nkolndongo health district. Materials and method: A cross-sectional study was conducted for a duration of 5 months from January to May 2021 and covered a period of 9 months (March to December 2020). All patients aged 0 to 19 years, suspected of having Covid-19, confirmed by real-time RT-PCR targeting the N and ORF1 ab viral genes and managed in the Nkolndongo health district were included. The results were analyzed using IBM SPSS.23.0 software and the data expressed as frequencies, percentages, and means. The threshold of statistical significance was set at 0.05. Results: This study revealed that 48 patients out of 154 suspected cases were tested positive. The most affected age group was adolescents aged 13 - 19 years (92.85%). The most frequent symptoms were cough (33%), fever (42%) and nasal discharge (25%). Infants were the least affected. 58% of patients were asymptomatic, 47.91% were in mild stage, 8.33% in moderate stage and 4.16% in severe stage. All the children tested positive survived. Patients with comorbidity were 20 times more likely to develop moderate to severe clinical forms, this being statistically significant. Conclusion: The clinical presentation reported mainly fever, cough and anterior nasal discharge. There was a significant association between the presence of comorbidity and the moderate to severe degrees of severity.

Cardiac Tamponade: Epidemioclinical, Therapeutic and Evolutionary Aspects at the University Hospital of Brazzaville

Objectives: Contribute to improving the management of cardiac tamponade in Congo. Background: Cardiac tamponade is an acute or subacute compression of the heart chambers by pericardial effusion responsible for uncertain prognosis for patients. The objective of this study is to help improve the management of patients with cardiac tamponade. Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective and descriptive study at the University Hospital of Brazzaville, from January 2015 to December 31, 2019. Included were all patients hospitalized for cardiac tamponade. Epidemioclinical, therapeutic and evolutionary data were analyzed. Results: An overall of 14 patients were divided into 9 men (64.2%) and 5 women (35.7%), i.e. a sex ratio of 1.8. The mean age of patients was 34.2 ± 15.1 years old (18 years to 64). The most represented comorbidity was hypertension (n = 2;14.3%). The most frequent clinical sign was dyspnea (n = 14;100%). The ECG showed diffuse and concordant repolarization disturbances (n = 14;100%), sinus tachycardia (n = 13;92.8%), microvoltage (n = 12;85.7%). Cardiomegaly was constant (n = 14;100%). In terms of transthoracic ultrasound, we found: diastolic compression of the right ventricle (RV) (n = 12;85.7%), dilation of the inferior vena cava (IVC) (n = 12;85.7%). Treatment consisted of crystalloid vascular filling in all patients, pericardial puncture (n = 7;50%), surgical drainage (n = 12;85.7%), anti-tuberculosis drugs (n = 11;78, 6%), antimitotics could be administered in one case (n = 1;7.2%). Two cases of death were recorded, i.e. 14.3%. Conclusion: Cardiac tamponade, although it is a rare condition, remains a serious pathology and difficult to manage in our context.

Tuberculous peritonitis in children:Report of nine patients and review of the literature

AIM:To present our experience with tuberculous peritonitis treated in our hospital from 2002-2007. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 9 children with tuberculous peritonitis. RESULTS: Nine patients (5 boys, 4 girls) of mean age 14.2 years were diagnosed with peritoneal tuberculosis. All patients presented with abdominal distention. Abdominal pain was seen in 55.5% and fever in 44.4% of the patients. Four cases had coexisting pleural effusion and two had pulmonary tuberculosis with parenchymal consolidation. Ultrasonography found ascites with septation in 7 patients. Two patients had only ascites without septation. Ascitic fluid analysis of 8 patients yielded serum-ascite albumin gradients of less than 1.1 gr/dL. Laparoscopy and laparotomy showed that whitish tuberculi were the most common appearance. Adhesions were also seen in three cases. The diagnosis of peritoneal tuberculosis was confirmed histo-pathologically in 7 patients and microbiologically in two. Two patients had been diagnosed by ascitic fluid diagnostic features and a positive response to antituberculous treatment. All patients completed the antituberculous therapy without any complications. CONCLUSION: Tuberculous peritonitis has to be clinically suspected in all patients with slowly progressive abdominal distension, particularly when it is accompanied by fever and pain. Laparoscopy and peritoneal biopsy are still the most reliable, quick and safe methods for the diagnosis of tuberculous peritonitis.

The influence of innate and adaptative immune responses on the differential clinical outcomes of leprosy

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae.According to official reports from 121 countries across five WHO regions,there were 213899 newly diagnosed cases in 2014.Although leprosy affects the skin and peripheral nerves,it can present across a spectrum of clinical and histopathological forms that are strongly influenced by the immune response of the infected individuals.These forms comprise the extremes of tuberculoid leprosy(TT),with a M.leprae-specific Th1,but also a Th17,response that limits M.leprae multiplication,through to lepromatous leprosy(LL),with M.leprae-specific Th2 and T regulatory responses that do not control M.leprae replication but rather allow bacterial dissemination.The interpolar borderline clinical forms present with similar,but less extreme,immune biases.Acute inflammatory episodes,known as leprosy reactions,are complications that may occur before,during or after treatment,and cause further neurological damages that can cause irreversible chronic disabilities.This review discusses the innate and adaptive immune responses,and their interactions,that are known to affect pathogenesis and influence the clinical outcome of leprosy.

Celiac disease:diagnostic criteria in progress

Until a few years ago,celiac disease(CD)was thought to be a rare food intolerance that was confined to childhood and characterized by severe malabsorption and flat intestinal mucosa.Currently,CD is regarded as an autoimmune disorder that is common in the general population(affecting 1 in 100 individuals),with possible onset at any age and with many possible presentations.The identification of CD is challenging because it can begin not only with diarrhea and weight loss but also with atypical gastrointestinal(constipation and recurrent abdominal pain)and extra-intestinal symptoms(anemia,raised transaminases,osteoporosis,recurrent miscarriages,aphthous stomatitis and associated autoimmune disorders),or it could be completely symptomless.Over the last 20 years,the diagnostic accuracy of serology for CD has progressively increased with the development of highly reliable tests,such as the detection of IgA tissue transglutaminase and antiendomysial and IgG antideamidated gliadin peptide antibodies.The routine use of antibody markers has allowed researchers to discover a very high number of‘borderline’cases,characterized by positive serology and mild intestinal lesions or normal small intestine architecture,which can be classified as potential CD.Therefore,it is evident that the‘old celiac disease’with flat mucosa is only a part of the spectrum of CD.It is possible that serology could identify CD in its early stages,before the appearance of severe intestinal damage.In cases with a positive serology but with mild or absent intestinal lesions,the detection of HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 can help reinforce or exclude the diagnosis of gluten sensitivity.