ISSN:
1573-2568
Keywords:
DERMATITIS HERPETIFORMIS
;
BONE MINERAL DENSITY
;
BONE METABOLISM
;
BODY MASS INDEX
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Dermatitis herpetiformis is a gluten-sensitiveskin disease with intestinal lesions and malabsorptionsymptoms less severe than those found in celiac disease.While several studies have shown the occurrence of osteopenia in celiac disease, bone mass andmetabolism have never before been evaluated indermatitis herpetiformis. Therefore, in 16 untreatedpatients, 16 sex- and age-matched untreated celiacpatients, and 16 sex- and age-matched healthy volunteers,lumbar and femoral bone mineral density were measuredand bone and mineral metabolism and nutritional statuswere evaluated. All these parameters were significantly altered in the two groups of patients andalthough the degree of these alterations was milder inpatients with dermatitis herpetiformis than in celiacpatients, the presence of subtotal villous atrophy in patients with dermatitis herpetiformis wasassociated with the presence of more severe alterations.Bone mineral density was significantly correlated withnutritional status, and patients showing bone loss were characterized by a body mass indexlower than 20. Alterations of bone mass and mineralmetabolism complicate dermatitis herpetiformis whensevere intestinal lesions coexist. A low nutritional status may be predictive of the presence ofbone loss.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1026603309056
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