Celiac Disease and Cystic Fibrosis: Challenges to Differential Diagnosis

• Published in: Folia Medica Vol. 58; no. 2; pp. 141 - 147
• Main Authors: Ramos, Alessandra Teixeira Pessoa, Figueirêdo, Manuella Machado, Aguiar, Ana Paula de B, Almeida, Carolina de Godoy, Mendes, Patrícia S A, Souza, Edna Lucia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bulgaria MEDICAL UNIVERSITY- PLOVDIV 01.04.2016; Pensoft Publishers
• Subjects: Celiac disease; Celiac Disease - diagnosis; Celiac Disease - immunology; Celiac Disease - pathology; childhood; Chlorine - analysis; cystic fibrosis; Cystic Fibrosis - diagnosis; Cystic Fibrosis - pathology; Diagnosis, Differential; Duodenum - pathology; Endoscopy, Digestive System; False Positive Reactions; Female; Gliadin - immunology; GTP-Binding Proteins - immunology; Humans; Infant; malabsorption syndrome; Protein-Energy Malnutrition; Sweat - chemistry; Transglutaminases - immunology
• ISSN: 0204-8043; 1314-2143
• DOI: 10.1515/folmed-2016-0020

Cystic fibrosis and celiac disease were considered a single clinical entity for many years. Differentiation between the diseases occurred some time in the 1930s of the 20th Century. Both diseases may present the intestinal malabsorption syndrome and similar clinical manifestations that contribute to difficulties with clinical distinction. We describe a report of two patients with initial diagnosis of cystic fibrosis, who were subsequently diagnosed with celiac disease. These case reports emphasize the possibility of false positivity being shown in the sweat test in CD, which may result in delayed diagnosis and inadequate management of this disease.