Celiac disease (CD) is an immune­ mediated disorder with various manifestations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) and extra-intestinal symptoms of celiac patients, especially migraine, and compare it with healthy individuals.

We compared 1000 celiac subjects (CS) registered at our celiac center with the control group for headache -based on International Classification of Headache Disorders, third edition criteria- and their Gl symptoms. Besides, CS with migraine and non-migrainous headache were compared in terms of Gl symptoms and accompanied conditions.

Headache was more common in CS than controls (34% vs 27% respectively, P value<0.001)and more prevalent in females (71.9% in females vs 28% in males,p value=0.004).Moreover, the prevalence of migraine in CS was higher than controls (20.7 vs 11.9% respectively, P value<0.001 ). Furthermore, migraine was more prevalent in females with CD (80% in females vs 19% in males, P value=0.033), and often without aura (76%). Abdominal pain (76.9%, P value=0.025), diarrhea (54.9%, P value=0.002), and constipation (42.9%, P value=0.011)were the most common Gl symptoms in CS with headache and more prevalent in CS with migraine. Conversely, type 1 diabetes mellitus was less common in CS with migraine than in CS with non­ migrainous headache. (P value=0.001 ). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, female sex (OR 1.50, 95%CI1.22-1.83, P value< 0.001), and CD (OR 1.36, 95%CI :1.12-1.65, P value=0.002) were independent predictors of headache, whereas age more than 60 years (OR 0.70, 95%CI 0.50-0.97, P value =0.032) had a protective effect.

Headache especially migraine is more prevalent in CS than healthy controls. In addition, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation are more common in CS with migraine than in CS with non-migrainous headaches. Therefore, evaluation of CD in patients with migraine and these simultaneous Gl symptoms seems reasonable.