Is a gluten-free diet necessary in patients with potential celiac disease?
Potential celiac disease is characterized by a normal duodenal mucosa despite high intraepithelial lymphocytes count and/or positive endomysial antibodies while on a gluten-containing diet. An agreement about the management of this condition is still lacking. A 68-year-old lady complaining of weight loss and epigastric pain was found to be affected by potential celiac disease. Although she maintained a gluten-containing diet, epigastric pain and weight loss disappeared. If she had started a gluten-free diet, the improvement would have been considered a demonstration of the beneficial effect of the diet. Potential celiac patients can be maintained on a gluten-containing diet providing they are closely followed up.
First Department of Internal Medicine, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy. f.biagi@smatteo.pv.it
F
F
Biagi
J
J
Campanella
P I
PI
Bianchi
G R
GR
Corazza
D000368:Aged; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000178:diet therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005983:Glutens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors
D005983:Glutens