[The prevalence of celiac disease in children with short stature in the absence of other symptomatology].
Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the authors studied the sera of 116 patients with short stature of undetermined cause and no gastrointestinal symptoms, for the levels of IgG and IgA antigliadin antibodies (AGA). AGA of IgG and IgA isotypes were positive in 8 patients (group 1); only AGA IgG were positive in 7 patients (group 2). Both groups with positive AGA had subsequent duodenal biopsy that showed a villous atrophy in all children in group 1 and in two in group 2. These patients showed a significant acceleration in height velocity after the introduction of a gluten-free diet.