Coexistence of Celiac Disease, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Rare Case Report

ABSTRACT
Celiac disease is an enteropathy characterised by a series of autoimmune reactions against dietary gluten in genetically predisposed individuals. The disease is reported to have a prevalence of between 0.49 % and 0.97 % in Turkiye. Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a genetically transmitted neuromuscular disease resulting from mutations in the dystrophin gene. Since the disease is X-linked recessive, the incidence in boys varies between 1/ 3 500 –5 000. Autism spectrum disorder is a clinically defined neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterised by deficits in social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviours. The current prevalence of the disease in Turkiye is not definitively established. Two cases showing duchenne muscular dystrophy-celiac disease coexistence have been reported in the literature. However, there is no case in the literature in which duchenne muscular dystrophy, celiac disease and autism spectrum disorder coexist. In this article, a two-year-old male patient with celiac disease, duchenne muscular dystrophy and autism spectrum disorder is presented. The interrelationship between these three diseases with a genetic basis is examined in the context of existing literature.
Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder, Celiac Disease, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy