Genetic predisposition to celiac disease in Kazakhstan: Potential impact on the clinical practice in Central Asia

Abstract

This study analyzed HLA-DQ genotypes of healthy bone marrow donors from Kazakhstan’s national registry and found that the frequency of celiac disease–related alleles (HLA-DQB1 variants) is significant and comparable to Western countries. Given the wheat-based dietary patterns in Kazakhstan, these results suggest that celiac disease prevalence may be higher than assumed, underscoring the need for cost-effective diagnostic strategies in Central Asia.