Clin Osteol 2006; 11(4): 91-94

Bone disease at late manifestation of gluten sensitive enteropathy - two case reportsReview articles

H. Ciferská, P. Horák, M. Tichý

Gluten sensitive enteropathy also known as coeliac sprue (CS) is an inflammatory disease of the small intestine, mainly jejunum, caused by intolerance of gliadin, a gluten protein, in genetically predisposed individuals. The first manifestation of CS is rare in the adults, more affected are women. The late onset manifestation is often overlooked due to incomplete clinical manifestations or misinterpretation to a different disease. Typical form of CS is mani­ fested in childhood by severe diarrhea, steatorrhea and malabsorbtion symptoms. There are present various stages of atrophy of small intestine architec­ ture present and serological presences of specific antibodies as are against tissue transglutaminase, anti-gliadin antibodies and anti-endomysial antibodi­ es. Osteomalacia and secondary hyperparathyreodism, osteopenia, osteoporosis can be first symptoms of late onset CS. Two case reports show the affection of bone as the first manifestation of CS in adulthood and point out the importance of CS as the one of the cause of metabolic bone diseases.

Keywords: coeliac sprue, gluten entheropathy, osteopenia, osteoporosis

Published: December 11, 2006  Show citation