<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> A couple of weeks ago I inquired about the connection between short stature and celiac for information for my cousin. I received TONS of emails!! Thanks to all of you for your help. I have given her all advice and comments I received! I don't even know how to begin to summarize, so this will be long, but many of you requested a summary!! 1.You probably already have lots of responses talking about short stature and celiac. It can be the only symptom in some kids (my 7 year old - no other symptoms. Only tested because his little brother was a classic celiac baby). I have an article that talks about muscular-skelatal symptoms of celiac such asshort stature. If you send your mailing address or fax, I'd be glad to send it. The really important thing about short stature in a celiac child is that the gf diet must be started before puberty. Once the puberty growth spurt is over, there is no opportunity to regain lost height. My older son has gained at a greater rate of height since going gf. Never did the huge amount of catch up we hoped for, but most definately a strong improvement. 2.Dr. Alessio Fasano, Pediatric Gastroenterologist at the University of Maryland has studied children with small stature. The following is a direct quote from him at a presentation to the Celiac Disease Foundation membership in Los Angeles on May 19, 1995: Another type of clinical presentation that should be considered atypical is short stature. In Europe, reports have been published which state that up to 20% of short stature is due to celiac disease. At the University of Maryland, we have a serum bank where 20 years of serum samples are stored. I took advantage of this serum bank and had my colleagues pull samples from all those children who were diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency and who were followed in the growth failure clinic. These serum samples were analyzed for IgG anti-gliadin antibody. Their medical records were examined to see what their growth pattern was. Two populations were seen: 'good growers' and 'poor growers.' The 'good growers' who responded well to growth hormone therapy, all had antibody levels within normal range. Among those who did not respond to growth hormone, a large proportion had high titers of anti-gliadin antibodies. Of those in the high antibody group who consented to undergo small intestinal biopsy, all were found to have celiac disease. Now, at the University of Maryland, children admitted for growth failure are routinely tested for anti-gliadin antibodies. 3. Please insist that your relatives be tested for celiac prior to starting the growth hormone shots. I don't have any articles to share with you, but my coworker has celiac and has 3 children. 1 of the children has extremely short stature and had been through many many complicated tests to determine the cause of her short stature. When I found out that my coworkers mother has celiac I talked her and her daughter into getting tested and they both came up positive. The daughter (Anna) initially went through a growing spurt after she went gluten free, but they are having big compliance issues with her because she's a teenager (13). 4. Short stature is a definite red flag, My daughter hadn't grown, was anemic and had severe abdominal pain. Been gf a little over a year, grew 7 in. and gained 35 lbs. Definitely should be tested for cd BEFORE getting growth hormone shots, I've heard they can cause some nasty things. 5. All I can tell you is that I have a daughter who also had stomach problems and short stature. She did not show symptoms such as diarhhea.......only nausea and upset stomachs off and on throughout her life. She was diagnosed with celiac by accident when she had an endoscope for supposed *reflux* and her doctor never suggested that might be her problem. I would suggest having the bloodwork done. It's simple and quick and would save a whole lot of heartache! 6. Our son was always very small though his brothers were tall. He was not diagnosed til he was 14 and at that time he had lost valuable years of growth. However when he went on a gf diet he did gain 7 inches that next year. He might have been taller had he been diagnosed earlier before the growth stage began (according to his doctor.) He is now 5 feet 9 inches He has a brother 6 feet 3 inches, one 6 feet 1 inch, one who is 17 and is 6 feet and another who is also 5 nine. Who know whether being celiac was the reason or whether his older brother who is short (and will not be tested ) is also a celiac. I believe the disease stole some of his height due to the mal nourshing aspect of it. He really thrived once he went gluten free 7. That female dr. in Atlanta, I believe her name is Cynthia Rudert. She has information regarding short stature being a possible sign of Celiac Disease. I heard her speak at a Celiac Annual Conference in Atlanta. There are many other "non-classic" symptoms of Celiac and short stature was one of them. Perhaps you'd find that info in the archives on the Celiac Sprue Assoc./USA website where they keep a lot of info from past conferences. 8. I have a daughter who is growth hormone deficient and is being treated by the shots. I network with many parents of such kids. Growth hormone deficiency is a very serious thing since the entire body needs GH in order to grow properly. Bone strength is dependant on proper levels of GH in the blood, so is muscle strength. Untreated GH deficiency results in bone problems including very early osteoporosis, lack of proper room in the body for inner organs, increased obesity from lack of muscle tone, heart problems, etc...... I also have a Celiac daughter. Both girls are adopted from different countries so this is not a genetic family issue. I realize that Celiac kids can have growth problems but in three and a half years of reading, networking with others, and researching, I have never found a Growth Hormone deficient child who is such from Celiac or who has the symptoms of Celiac Disease until I got on this list. What I am trying to say is that there can be many causes of GHD and many hormonal and physical problems that can inhibit the bodies ability to use the GH it produces. In the big picture of the many growth hormone contributing factors I believe that Celiac, as the root of Growth Hormone Deficiency, especially in the absence of Celiac symptoms, is probably not too common. Unless this child has celiac symptoms there is no reason to suspect celiac disease and great danger in putting off the shots. In order for the shots to work the best they need to be started as young as possible. The misunderstanding about Growth Hormone is when people think it's just a "short" issue and this is common. Being short is the least of the medical problems the GH deficient child faces. My growth deficient daughter has never had any Celiac symptoms. This is the same with all of her GH deficient friends. 9. Failure to thrive (grow) is a very common occurrence in --undiagnosed-- children with celiac disease. I would highly recommend that this boy and mother, as minimum, both get blood tests. I was only five feet tall when I graduated from highschool. Soon after highschool, because of a diet change and other circumstances, I suddenly grew up to be 5' 11". I was not diagnosed until I was in my fifties. Simple blood tests should give a clue. That should be done --before-- that growth hormone is started. There are many research papers that describe this situation. Dr. Murray at the Mayo clinic published an excellent article. Going on WebMD and search for celiac disease will also give some guidance. *Support summarization of posts, reply to the SENDER not the Celiac List*