Celiac sprue in an asymptomatic elderly man
Cordum, N.R.; McGuire, B.M.; Nelson, D.
Minnesota Medicine 78(5): 29-30
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0026-556X PMID: 7791725 Document Number: 452845
The authors discuss the case of an asymptomatic patient with celiac sprue presenting with hematologic abnormalities on screening laboratory examination. The patient was initially treated for vitamin B-12 and folate deficiency, and subsequently for iron deficiency with limited success until the diagnosis was established. The absence of such classic features of celiac disease as steatorrhea and diarrhea is not an uncommon presentation. Unexplained iron deficiency should alert the clinician to the possibility of celiac sprue.