CELIAC-DISEASE TRANSMITTED BY ALLOGENEIC NON-T CELL-DEPLETED BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANTATION

We observed the occurrence of celiac disease following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation in a patient transplanted for acute leukemia. The marrow donor was his HLA-identical sister, who had suffered from c eliac disease since birth. The post-transplant period was characterize d by recurrent episodes of diarrhea. Detailed workup showed atrophic i ntestinal mucosa on histology and anti-gliadin and anti-endomysium ant ibodies in the serum, features that were not present before transplant ation. GVHD was absent at that time. The patient remains free of sympt oms on gluten-free diet and slight immunosuppression. This case sugges ts transmission of celiac disease by bone marrow transplantation and s upports the T cell concept in celiac disease.