Bronchiectasis in association with coeliac disease.
A 48 year old woman presented with a history of fatigue, regular sputum production, and wheeze. High resolution computed tomographic scanning of the thorax demonstrated widespread bronchiectasis. Coeliac disease was diagnosed on the basis of an iron deficiency anaemia, subtotal villous atrophy on small bowel biopsy, and raised anti-gliadin and antiendomysial antibodies. The temporal relationship of the bronchiectasis and coeliac disease, and the subsequent stabilisation of her clinical symptoms and improvement in pulmonary physiology following treatment with inhaled corticosteroids, suggests a relationship between the two conditions which may be due to immunological mechanisms.
Department of Chest Medicine, West Suffolk Hospital, Edmunds, UK.
R
R
Mahadeva
C
C
Flower
J
J
Shneerson
D000420:Albuterol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / Q000097:blood; D001507:Beclomethasone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001987:Bronchiectasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D001507:Beclomethasone; D000420:Albuterol