THE DEVELOPMENT OF HEMOCHROMATOSIS AFTER TREATMENT FOR CELIAC SPRUE

Celiac sprue is a chronic disease characterized by maldigestion and ma labsorption. Whereas many diseases have been reported in association w ith celiac sprue, hemochromatosis has not. A 62-year-old man with celi ac sprue and a history of iron deficiency and osteopenic bone disease who developed hemochromatosis is reported. Liver biopsy showed portal tract fibrosis, early nodule formation and increased hepatic iron stor age. The patient developed hemochromatosis with hepatic injury two yea rs after his transferrin saturation became elevated and 10 years after he had been placed on gluten-free diet. Lifelong iron accumulation wa s prevented by chronic malabsorption of iron but hemochromatosis becam e manifest when his celiac sprue was treated.