A 70-year-old man with isolated weight loss and a pellagra-like syndrome due to celiac disease

Yale J Biol Med. 1999 Jan-Feb;72(1):15-8.

Abstract

An elderly man was diagnosed with celiac disease, which presented with three notable features: first, presentation at the age of 70 with no prior gastrointestinal symptomatology or positive family history; second, triggering of all symptoms following recent myocardial infarction and infective endocarditis; third, presentation with marked (more than 20 percent) weight loss and pellagra-like skin lesions despite nearly normal examination and laboratory tests. Thus, celiac disease may present as a pellagra-like syndrome in the elderly with predominant weight loss that is enhanced by the related taste disturbances.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Age of Onset
  • Aged
  • Celiac Disease / complications
  • Celiac Disease / diagnosis*
  • Celiac Disease / therapy
  • Diet
  • Endocarditis / complications
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Myocardial Infarction / complications
  • Pellagra / etiology*
  • Syndrome
  • Taste Disorders / etiology
  • Weight Loss*