Spectrum of height in patients with celiac disease

Growth retardation is an important feature of celiac disease (CeD) that can lead to the failure of attainment of potential adult height. There is lack of data on the spectrum of height in treatment-naïve patients with CeD, with normal expected height at one end and short stature at the other.

We performed a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database at our center, including a total of 583 treatment-naïve patients with CeD: 419 adults (183 [43.7%] males) and 164 adolescents (12-18 years) (72 [43.9%] males). The details extracted from the database included demographic details, height, weight, body mass index, clinical symptoms, biochemical parameters, anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody anti-tTG Ab) titer, and the severity of villous abnormalities (as per modified Marsh grade). The data from Indian National Family Health Survey-4 were used as comparators.

Overall, 19.6% of adults and 57.9% of adolescents with CeD had short stature. While mean height of men with CeD was similar, women were taller than population controls. While a higher proportion of men with CeD had short stature as compared to the controls (32.2% vs. 20%, p<0.001), a lower proportion of women with CeD had short stature (9.7% vs. 18.9%, p<0.001). Higher proportion of adolescents with CeD had short stature compared to adults (57.9% vs. 19.6%, p<0.001). On multivariate analysis, adulthood was found to be associated with a lower prevalence of short stature.

Overall, 19.6% of adults and 57.9% of adolescents with CeD had short stature. While the mean height of adult men with CeD was not significantly different from the population controls, women were taller. Adolescents with CeD were significantly shorter than their peers.