Severe Growth Retardation in Gluten Sensitive Enteropathy Associated with Idiopathic Proctocolitisand Juvenile Lymphocytic Thyroiditis in Childhood: The Review of Literature

Overview

Authors report on a 15-year-old girl with coeliac disease and severe growth failure who developed ulcerativecolitis and juvenile lymphocytic thyroiditis. At preschool age growth retardation was documented, which becamesevere in adolescents in association with left sided idiopathic proctocolitis. She carried HLA-DQB1*02 (DQ2),DQB1*03, DRB1*03, and DRB1*13 haplotypes. Pathogenetic mechanisms associating the three diseases are notfully understood, although an immunologic connection is suspected. Both gluten-free diet, thyroxin, and anti-inflammatorytreatment was successfully administered. This report describes an association between coeliac disease,idiopatic proctocolitis, and juvenile lymphocytic thyroiditis, and should be considered at the time of diagnosis.Further studies would be required to explore such associations.

Key words:
coeliac disease, idiopatic proctocolitis, juvenile lymphocytic thyroiditis, growth retardation