title: Minimally symptomatic hypocalcaemia unmasking celiac disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease of the small intestine which occurs in genetically predisposed people of all ages. A large clinical spectrum of manifestations accompanies the onset of the disease with diarrhoea, flatulence and weight loss being the most common. However, findings like osteoporosis, iron deficiency, anaemia and hypocalcaemia could also insinuate the existence of the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the case of a 55-year-old man with numbness and tingling of the upper extremities due to hypocalcaemia that proved to be an uncommon case of celiac disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A non-negligible number of adult patients with celiac disease can present with only minor and subclinical manifestations of the disease. As such, hypocalcaemia may be the sole manifestation of celiac disease. A high index of suspicion is needed for prompt diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Second Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece spanbiol@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lazaridis
authors.affiliation: Second Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Drosou
authors.affiliation: Second Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fontalis
authors.affiliation: Second Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Prousali
authors.affiliation: Second Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Hadwe
authors.affiliation: Second Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Giouleme
authors.affiliation: Second Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Petidis
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D055050:Diet, Gluten-Free; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D006987:Hypesthesia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007501:Iron / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014807:Vitamin D; C104450:25-hydroxyvitamin D; D007501:Iron; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Celiac disease; hypocalcaemia; malabsorption