Introduction:

one of the main extradigestive manifestations of celiac disease is the decrease in bone mineral density (BMD). Bone densitometry performed with DXA is the method of choice for BMD assessment. Indications for its use in celiac children are controversial.

Objective:

analyzing BMD and various clinical-analytical variables in celiac children when diagnosed and after a gluten-free diet. Define a profile of patients who are more likely to present BMD involvement based on several individual characteristics, to perform DXA indications.

Methods:

study performed in 24 celiac children (12 boys) (age: 8.7 ± 3.3 years). Their BMD was determined at diagnosis and after a gluten-free diet using DXA. The BMD was compared in each patient in the two moments of the study and at the moment of diagnosis between groups of patients stratified according to severity criteria dependent on clinical, analytical and histological variables.

Results:

BMD was normal in all patients studied at the time of diagnosis and after treatment, with no difference between the two moments of the analysis. Children who presented symptomatology when diagnosed with celiac disease had lower spine and femur BMD than asymptomatic ones. The calcemia had an inverse correlation with the time of evolution of the disease before its diagnosis.

Conclusions:

in general, in our setting, the study of bone mineralization in celiac children is not indicated, unless there has been a prolonged clinical course before diagnosis.

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