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

• Published in: The Pan African medical journal Vol. 19; no. 43; p. 43
• Main Authors: Tahiri, Latifa, Azzouzi, Hamida, Squalli, Ghita, Abourazzak, Fatimazahra, Harzy, Taoufik
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Uganda The African Field Epidemiology Network 19.09.2014; The Pan African Medical Journal
• Subjects: Adult; bone loss; Calcium - administration & dosage; Case Report; celiac disease; Celiac Disease - complications; Celiac Disease - therapy; Diet, Gluten-Free; Female; Humans; Iron - administration & dosage; Morocco; osteomalacia; Osteomalacia - etiology; Osteomalacia - physiopathology; Osteomalacia - therapy; Severity of Illness Index; vitamin d; Vitamin D - administration & dosage; Morocco; celiac disease; Morocco; Osteomalacia; vitamin D; bone loss
• ISSN: 1937-8688; 1937-8688
• DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2014.19.43.2757

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.