Coeliac disease in children: think about other causes of growth retardation

Abstract

Coeliac disease is an auto-immune enteropathy induced by gliadin ingestion. We report the cases of 3 children followed up for celiac disease. Gluten free diet was followed correctly with a good clinical response and negative celiac serologic testing. However, a slowing of the growth rate was observed; endocrinologic and genetic exams revealed respectively a Turner syndrome, a Growth hormone (GH) deficiency and an association GH and adrenal deficiency. GH supplementation was administered to all children with improvement of statural prognosis.