[Oligosymptomatic celiac disease--axis correction of extreme genu valgum with a gliadin-free diet].

We report on a girl who suffered from a severe left-sided Genu valgum. As there was a remarkable deterioration despite a conservative orthopedic therapy on osteotomy was planned. However, preoperative investigations revealed a malabsorption syndrome with osteomalacia due to coeliac disease. This gliadin-sensitive enteropathy had already been diagnosed and treated in infancy but had been ignored, since no abdominal symptoms had occurred after re-introduction of normal food. Four years after start of gliadin-free diet the false position of the left leg had disappeared and an operative correction had not to be performed.