[Diagnosis of celiac disease in an elderly subject: description of a clinical case]

A 70-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of a 5-year history of weight loss, weakness, anemia, osteomalacia, pathologic fractures and pain responding only to narcotic analgesics. A diagnosis of celiac disease was made on the basis of pathologic xylose absorption test results, studies confirming the presence of antigliadin and antiendomysial antibodies, and jejunal biopsy evidencing shortened or absent villi. The detection of unusual cases of celiac disease without diarrhea is on the increase. The only observable symptoms of this pathology may be osteomalacia or persistent iron deficiency anemia despite oral iron therapy.