Severe heart failure, dilated cardiomyopathy and pulmonary haemosiderosis in coeliac disease: report of two cases.

Coeliac disease (CD) is a chronic inflammatory, multi-system disorder with protean manifestations which has been linked to various auto-immune-mediated disorders. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a rare extra-intestinal manifestation that is being recognised increasingly in patients with CD. Two cases of CD are described, an 18-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl, both of whom presented with rapid onset of congestive heart failure and severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction. Upper limb venous thrombosis and recurrent haemoptysis secondary to pulmonary haemosiderosis in the second case were the other unusual features. The importance of CD screening of patients with DCM and pulmonary haemosiderosis is emphasised.