Necropsy studies on adult coeliac disease

Abstract

The distribution of mucosal changes in adult coeliac disease was studied in 24 cases within 4 hr of death. There were 6 patients on a normal diet who showed flat mucosa in the jejunum, convolutions in the middle third, and digitate villi in the terminal ileum. A more extensive distribution of flat mucosa and convolutions involving most of the small intestine was noted in one case. Eighteen patients had been treated with a gluten free diet and 11 responded well clinically and histologically. No evidence of flat mucosa was discovered at necropsy in 6 of these. Attention is drawn to the high incidence of malignancy in this series (13 out of 24 cases). Other complications of adult coeliac disease are briefly discussed.