Celiac Disease among Adolescents. Poor Growth and Delayed Puberty

Growth is a very reliable index of health assessment, both in children and teenagers. Growth is often affected (slowed or arrested) in children who suffer from chronic diseases, including the gastrointestinal disorders. Since the use of the serologic markers and small intestinal biopsy as diagnostic tools, it has become evident that the clinical presentation is highly variable in patients with celiac disease. Some patients present the classic symptoms of the celiac disease (diarrhea, malnutrition and growth failure), while others, unveil their disorder at puberty when growth failure and delayed puberty seem to be the only symptoms of the disease. We present the clinical case of a 16 years old girl, referred to our endocrine unit for short stature, failure to thrive and lack of menarche.