This report discusses a severe case of osteomalacia due to gluten-sensitive enteropathy: it stresses the clinical features and describes an atypical form of gluten-sensitive enteropathy, in which gastroenterological symptoms were absent. Wasting and osteomalacia causing skeletal deformation with spontaneous fractures were observed in a 31-year-old woman who had marked hypophosphoremia, a tendency to low serum calcium levels and slight multi-deficiency anaemia. The patient was in a state of depression. The causes of osteomalacia and then a general malabsorption syndrome were investigated. Anti-gliadin antibodies were positive. Histological tests on duodenal mucous revealed a pattern indicative of gluten-sensitive enteropathy. A gluten-free diet was prescribed and at a check-up one month later the patient had improved markedly. Skeletal symptoms are predominant in 30% of atypical forms of gluten-sensitive enteropathy. The severity of this case was due to a late diagnosis.

Severe osteomalacia due to gluten-sensitive enteropathy.

LUPATTELLI, Graziana;CIUFFETTI, Giovanni;MANNARINO, Elmo
1994

Abstract

This report discusses a severe case of osteomalacia due to gluten-sensitive enteropathy: it stresses the clinical features and describes an atypical form of gluten-sensitive enteropathy, in which gastroenterological symptoms were absent. Wasting and osteomalacia causing skeletal deformation with spontaneous fractures were observed in a 31-year-old woman who had marked hypophosphoremia, a tendency to low serum calcium levels and slight multi-deficiency anaemia. The patient was in a state of depression. The causes of osteomalacia and then a general malabsorption syndrome were investigated. Anti-gliadin antibodies were positive. Histological tests on duodenal mucous revealed a pattern indicative of gluten-sensitive enteropathy. A gluten-free diet was prescribed and at a check-up one month later the patient had improved markedly. Skeletal symptoms are predominant in 30% of atypical forms of gluten-sensitive enteropathy. The severity of this case was due to a late diagnosis.
1994
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11391/914846
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