Growth failure from symptomless celiac disease. A study of 14 patients.

In 14 children and adolescents, abnormally short stature was shown to be due to celiac disease (CD) though the patients had no current gastrointestinal symptoms. Growth failure had appeared in the first years of life, and was associated with a marked lag in bone age. Subnormal growth hormone (GH) responses were demonstrated in 4 patients, and subnormal ACTH responses in 2. In 1 patient permanent isolated GH deficiency coincided with CD. A jejunal biopsy should form part of the routine diagnostic evaluation for abnormally short stature, except in patients who have had normal growth during the first year of life.