Dust exposure in coeliac disease: a case-referent

Case series of coeliac disease show that chronic allergic alveolitis (farmers' lung) and fever reactions due to exposure to organic dust (organic dust toxic syndrome) commonly occur among subjects with coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis, these being related disorders. In this case-referent study 105 cases of coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetifor mis were compared with 237 referents from the general population by means of a mail inquiry regarding exposure to various environmental factors. Increased odds ratios were obtained with exposure to various farm animals and more clearly for cotton dust, although numbers were few. Animal husban dry in Sweden invariably means heavy exposure to organic dust. The fact that com paratively few persons reported dust exposure may be of doubtful validity in view of the high frequency of exposure to farm animals repor ted by the cases.