Small bowel capsule endoscopy, a modern tool for celiac disease diagnosis - case presentation

Abstract

Abstract Celiac disease is a clinically heterogeneous disease characterized by an inadequate immunological response when patients with specific genetic phenotypes are exposed to gluten. This article presents a case of a young woman diagnosed in Gastroenterology Department of “ St. Andrew Apostle” Emergency Hospital of Constanta with celiac disease after multiple admissions into the hospital for unspecific symptoms such as pallor, fatigue, pirosis, weight loss and 1-2 soft stools/day. The history with period irregularities and infertility without a known cause, a recent unexplained bone fracture, the muscle weakness, neuropsychiatric symptoms characterized by sleep disturbances and irritability correlated with the biological features characterized by moderate feriprive anemia, Ca and Mg decreased level, thyroid autoimmune impairment and gastrointestinal symptoms raised the suspicion of an autoimmune disorder with multiple targets. The videcapsule endoscopy (VCE) revealed the specific pattern of the celiac disease: villous atrophy of jejunum, scalloping, absent folds and cobblestone mucosal pattern. Results were correlated with immunology tests results. The patient was transferred on a gluten free diet and the clinical and VCE controlsrevealed the healing of the jejunum mucosa. The VCE can be the tool for positive diagnosis of an unusual and heterogeneous celiac disease in patients with various symptoms without an apparent cause.