SAT-509 Sudden Onset of Malabsorption

Abstract

Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated enteropathy caused by a reaction to gliadin which responds to a restriction to dietary gluten. It has been traditionally recognized in children and young adults, although, recently, detection in the elderly population has increased. CD occurs in 2–5% of patients with autoimmune hypothyroidism, and is more prevalent in this group than in the general population An 82-year-old Caucasian woman with primary hypothyroidism and a BMI of 16 is referred to our endocrinology clinic for help with the management of hypothyroidism. She had a history of well controlled hypothyroidism on weight-dosed levothyroxine for many years until several months prior when she developed sudden onset of diarrhea and weight loss. Since then, her thyroid function tests showed an elevated TSH despite medication adherence. Her levothyroxine dose was steadily increased to 300 mcg daily and yet, her TSH still remained elevated. Laboratory work up was done which revealed elevated transglutaminase antibodies, suggesting the diagnosis of CD. The patient refused an endoscopy for a tissue diagnosis. Even though the patient has been diagnosed with CD, she has trouble following a gluten free diet and still has intermittent diarrhea and high levothyroxine requirements. Although lack of medication adherence is common, it is important to exclude gastric or intestinal causes of malabsorption in patients with high thyroid replacement requirements. Elderly patients often have paucity of symptoms, so high clinical suspicion is necessary to diagnose these patients.