Celiac Disease in a Patient Who Was Followed as Familial Mediterranean Fever

Abstract

Celiac disease is an enteropathy that goes with small intestine mucosal damage in a sensitive person consuming gluten-containing diet. The disease has a wide spectrum of symptoms. In general it presents with chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain, fatigue, weakness, abdominal distention and failure to thrive but patients may refer with a single symptom. Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is a disease that causes chronic abdominal pain. A 13 year-old patient who was suffering from chronic abdominal pain is reported here. At first he was diagnosed as FMF and colchicine treatment was started. Later on, due to treatment failure he was evaluated again and celiac disease was investigated because short stature was noticed in addition to abdominal pain. As the serologic and histopathologic findings supported celiac disease, gluten free diet was started. The symptoms disappeared completely after the gluten free diet. Six months later the patient gained weight and height and the measured serum celiac antibodies became negative. In conclusion, celiac disease should be kept in mind in patients with chronic abdominal pain.