Gluten-Sensitive Enteropathy with Osteomalacia but without Steatorrhea

Abstract

GLUTEN-sensitive enteropathy with steatorrhea (celiac disease) is a well defined clinical entity, and selective absorptive deficiencies may exist for many years before the discovery of the overt enteropathy.1 2 3 4 Osteomalacia, which may occur with chronic enteropathy, has generally been attributed to vitamin D malabsorption accompanying the steatorrhea. To our knowledge, severe bone disease in gluten-sensitive enteropathy without steatorrhea has not previously been reported. In the case presented below, osteomalacia, osteoporosis and multiple bone fractures were the principal manifestations of a gluten-sensitive enteropathy; the diagnosis of a malabsorption syndrome was not initially entertained because of the absence of steatorrhea or diarrhea. The . . .