Growth, bone age and nutritional status in neglected coeliac disease.

In 43 children with neglected coeliac disease (NCD) the growth and nutritional status (NS) were followed-up and analysed in the period between the age of 3 and 9 years in which prolonged exposure to gluten resulted in the persistent enteropathy. The significant "weight for age" and "height for age" deficits without concomitant "weight for height" deficits were observed at each yearly interval in the monitored period. The significant positive correlation between the percentage of children with the deficient NS and the duration of the exposure to gluten was found for the total examined period. There was also evidenced the significant bone age v. height age deficit. The linear growth retardation observed in NCD may be considered as the result of the progressive deficiency of NS.