Celiac disease causing severe osteomalacia: an association still present in Morocco!

Pan Afr Med J. 2014 Sep 19:19:43. doi: 10.11604/pamj.2014.19.43.2757. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Celiac disease (CD), a malabsorption syndrome caused by hypersensitivity to gliadin fraction of gluten. CD can manifest with classic symptoms; however, significant myopathy and multiple fractures are rarely the predominant presentation of untreated celiac disease. Osteomalacia complicating celiac disease had become more and more rare. We describe here a case of osteomalacia secondary to a longstanding untreated celiac disease. This patient complained about progressive bone and muscular pain, weakness, fractures and skeletal deformities. Radiological and laboratory findings were all in favor of severe osteomalacia. Improvement of patient's weakness and laboratory abnormalities was obvious after treatment with gluten free diet, vitamin D, calcium and iron. This case affirms that chronic untreated celiac disease, can lead to an important bone loss and irreversible complications like skeletal deformities.

Keywords: Morocco; Osteomalacia; bone loss; celiac disease; vitamin D.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Calcium / administration & dosage
  • Celiac Disease / complications*
  • Celiac Disease / therapy
  • Diet, Gluten-Free*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Iron / administration & dosage
  • Morocco
  • Osteomalacia / etiology*
  • Osteomalacia / physiopathology
  • Osteomalacia / therapy
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Vitamin D / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Vitamin D
  • Iron
  • Calcium