Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Coeliac disease (CD) is associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and relevance of screening for osteoporosis in CD and to determine possible risk factors in the coeliac population. There has been no conclusive study concerning the efficacy of such screening programmes to date.

Method: All Coeliac patients who attended a 2003 Coeliac clinic were reviewed by questionnaire, clinical notes and follow-up phone calls. The study included detailed information regarding patient profiles, management, advice and follow-up.

Results: Fifty-eight out of a possible 89 patients responded (65%) to the questionnaire. Of the respondents, 18 were diagnosed with osteoporosis, 16 with osteopenia and 2 with osteomalacia. There was a significantly (P<0.05) increased risk of osteoporosis in patients who were female, post-menopausal, and those with increased time from diagnosis. Those patients who had been diagnosed with CD for more than 10 years were significantly (P<0.05) less likely to have osteoporosis, despite excluding those diagnosed as children.

Conclusions: Osteoporosis is a common complication of CD. However, current research questions the need to screen all Coeliac patients. This study suggests that the risk of osteoporosis may reduce with increased time from diagnosis of CD. Further research is required, but current guidelines need to be reviewed and updated in the light of these findings.