Growth and sexual retardation in a boy with celiac disease

Growth and sexual retardation in boys can be caused by both endocrine and somatogenic causes. One of the somatogenic causes of growth and puberty retardation is celiac disease that is a genetic disorder of the small intestine, which is associated with deficiency of enzymes breaking down the gluten peptide. The clinical picture of celiac disease may be dominated by gastrointestinal manifestations (diarrhea, recurrent abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, appetite disorders) and nonspecific symptoms (irritability, apathy, physical and sexual retardation, impaired reproductive function, anemia, etc.). We present a case of late diagnosis of celiac disease in a 15-year-old boy with physical (height SDS, −4.1; bone age SDS, −8.2) and sexual (Tanner 1) retardation. The negative results of gonadoliberin (max LH, 2 mIU/mL) and chorionic gonadotropin (Δ-testosterone, 2,3 nmol/L) tests indicated the lack of activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal system. However, inhibin B (29.9 pg/mL) and anti-Mullerian hormone (43.8 ng/mL) levels indicated preservation of the reserve capabilities of this system. During follow-up, after treatment with a gluten-free diet for 10 months, the patient demonstrated an improved growth rate (2.7 SDS), progression of the sexual development stage (Tanner 2), and positive results of diagnostic diphereline (max LH, 16.8 IU/mL) and chorionic gonadotropin (Δ-testosterone, 11.8 nmol/L) tests. This case demonstrates the need to exclude celiac disease in patients with growth and sexual retardation, especially when these pathologies are combined with protein-energy deficiency, gastrointestinal symptoms, and anemia, as well as the need to use additional indicators of the reproductive system condition in boys, e.g. inhibin B and anti-Mullerian hormone.

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