[Is pure red cell aplasia a new extra digestive manifestation of celiac disease?]

Rev Med Interne. 2006 Apr;27(4):336-9. doi: 10.1016/j.revmed.2006.01.002. Epub 2006 Feb 9.
[Article in French]

Abstract

Introduction: Celiac disease is an autoimmune enteropathy that appears on a predisposed genetic background. Its clinical presentation has been extended those last years by varied extradigestive manifestations.

Exegesis: This is a case report of a twenty-year-old woman who presented simultaneously a celiac disease and pure red cell aplasia. The IgA and IgG antigliadin antibodies as well as antinuclear, anti-DNA, anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies were detected, without any clinical symptom supporting the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus or Sjögren syndrome. Thoracic CT-scan reveals a thymus enlargement and biopsy concludes to thymus hyperplasia at histological examination. Pure red cell aplasia regressed after gluten-free diet, corticoid therapy and thymectomy.

Conclusion: This observation, added to the three others paediatric cases previously published in the literature concern an uncommon association between pure red cell aplasia and celiac disease. However, they are not enough to conclude to a direct link between these two disorders. Pure red cell aplasia could represent un new dysimmune manifestation occurring in celiac disease, but this will need to be confirmed with others cases.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Adult
  • Biopsy
  • Celiac Disease / complications*
  • Celiac Disease / diagnosis
  • Celiac Disease / diet therapy
  • Celiac Disease / drug therapy
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure / complications*
  • Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure / diagnosis
  • Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure / etiology
  • Thymectomy
  • Thymus Gland / pathology
  • Thymus Hyperplasia / diagnostic imaging
  • Thymus Hyperplasia / pathology
  • Thymus Hyperplasia / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones