Gluten-free diet improves iron-deficiency anaemia in patients with coeliac disease.
Two cases of newly-diagnosed asymptomatic coeliac disease with 3 years of unexplained severe iron-deficiency anaemia are presented. Oral iron supplementation had no effect on their serum iron levels and, therefore, had no influence on their anaemia. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy confirmed normal macroscopic findings. Duodenal biopsies revealed subtotal villous atrophy of the mucosa of the small intestine. A strict gluten-free diet led to an increase in serum iron, resolution of anaemia, and restitution of normal mucosal morphology. Thus, severe iron-deficiency anaemia associated with asymptomatic coeliac disease is responsible to gluten-free diet.
Sari
R
R
Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Inonu University, Turgut Ozal Medical Center, Malatya, Turkey. drsari@hotmail.com
Yildirim
B
B
Sevinc
A
A
Buyukberber
S
S
D000328:Adult; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000178:diet therapy; D005260:Female; D005983:Glutens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000502:physiology; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood*; D000090463:Iron Deficiencies
D005983:Glutens; D007501:Iron