OLIGOSYMPTOMATIC CELIAC-DISEASE - 4 CASE- REPORTS

In the last 5 years we observed four cases of oligosymptomatic celiac disease. All patients presented isolated manifestations of malabsorpti on. but we did not find the typical symptoms of celiac disease, like d iarrhea or steatorrhea. Three patients showed an iron deficiency anemi a refractory to therapy and one patient a distinct osteomalacia with s pontaneous bone fractures In all these cases we were able to point out the typical microscopic feature and tissue antibodies of the celiac d isease. Treating the patients with a glutenfree diet, the symptoms dis appeared. These observations demonstrate the importance of the small b owel biopsy in cases of causative unknown isolated manifestations of m alabsorption, which possibly belong to the celiac disease.