Hyposplenism, adult coeliac disease, and autoimmunity

Functional hyposplenism is associated with a variety of disorders including coeliac disease. The aims of this study were to estimate the need for a small intestinal biopsy in the investigation of hyposplenism, and to assess the relationship of autoimmunity to hyposplenism and coeliac disease. During one year, the features of hyposplenism were found in blood films of 27 patients who had not had a splenectomy. Ten patients were already known to have coeliac disease. Intestinal biopsy was performed in another 13 patients; coeliac disease was diagnosed in six. Of the 23 patients biopsied, coeliac disease was present in 16 (70%). Autoantibodies were detected in significantly more patients with hyposplenism than in healthy controls (P less than 0.05), and in significantly more coeliacs with hyposplenism than coeliacs with normal blood films (P less than 0.01). The increased incidence of autoantibodies in coeliacs with hyposplenism compared with other coeliacs was not associated with a difference in the incidence of HLA-B8. Small bowel biopsy should be carried out in the investigation of unexplained hyposplenism. There may be a link between hyposplenism and the autoimmune manifestations of coeliac disease.