[Osteomalacia and fatigue fractures in celiac disease]

We report on a 36-year-old female patient suffering from bilateral inguinal pain. The x-ray revealed significant osteoporosis of both proximal femurs with an impacted fatigue fracture of the right calcar and Looser zones at the left subtrochanteric femur. The intestinal biopsy proved coeliac disease, resulting in a secondary malabsorption. The authors conclude that osteomalacia in young patients could indicate coeliac-induced malabsorption.