[Adult celiac disease with thrombosis: a case series of seven patients. Role of thrombophilic factors]

Abstract

Purpose: Thrombotic events may occur in celiac disease. In this study, we analyzed clinical features and risk factors for thrombosis in seven patients who had celiac disease and thrombosis.

Methods: We retrospectively studied 87 patients with adult celiac disease and identified seven cases of thrombosis. We searched if risk factors for thrombosis were identified and tested retrospectively antiphospholipid antibodies on the serum.

Results: In our study, the global prevalence of thrombosis was 8 %, and 5.7 % for spontaneous thrombosis, with venous thrombosis (n=5) or arterial thrombosis (n=1) or both (n=2). The seven patients consisted in six women and one man with a mean age of 44.8 years at time of thrombosis. Thrombotic events occurred before the diagnosis of celiac disease in four cases. In three cases, venous thrombosis was in unusual sites: portal (n=2), splenic vein thrombosis (n=1). In six cases, we identified risk factors for thrombosis, which could be linked to celiac disease: hyperhomocysteinemia (n=1), protein C and S deficiency due to vitamin K deficiency (n=3) and antiphospholipid antibodies (n=2).

Conclusion: Such risk factors for thrombosis should be identified in patients in adult celiac disease in order to correct them and add a thromboembolic prophylaxis.