Celiac disease associated with beta thalassemia minor, coincidence or not: A case report

Celiac disease may be associated with a variety of autoimmune diseases such as glucose intolerance, autoimmune thyroid disorders, Sjogren’s syndrome, and untypically with hematological diseases such as beta-thalassemia minor. The simultaneity of celiac disease and beta-thalassemia minor is extremely rare. Only a few cases with both celiac disease and beta-thalassemia minor have been reported in the corresponding medical literature so far. Since the overall prevalence rate of celiac disease is 1% among the public and it has been estimated that 5% of general population has at least one variant allele of thalassemia mutations, the question arises whether the coexistence of celiac disease and beta-thalassemia minor is just a coincidence or etiologic relation. As they both are immune mediated diseases (IMDs), a link between them is possible. In this study, a 46-year-old man was reported who was admitted with both beta-thalassemia minor and celiac disease. He was referred with probable malabsorption syndrome, causing an iron deficiency anemia and weight loss. Clinically, he was diagnosed with celiac disease and beta-thalassemia minor, which was confirmed later by a small bowel biopsy and hemoglobin (Hb) electrophoresis. The patient was treated with a gluten free diet and folic acid. Celiac disease should be considered as a probable state in patients with beta-thalassemia minor. The prevalence of celiac disease and beta thalassemia minor is significantly high in many countries. Therefore, patients with thalassemia minor should be screened for celiac disease.