PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Peysh Patel
AU  - Fraser Smith
AU  - Niamh Kilcullen
AU  - Nigel Artis
TI  - Dilated cardiomyopathy as the first presentation of coeliac disease: association or causation?
AID  - 10.7861/clinmedicine.18-2-177
DP  - 2018 Apr 01
TA  - Clinical Medicine
PG  - 177--179
VI  - 18
IP  - 2
4099  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/18/2/177.short
4100  - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/18/2/177.full
SO  - Clin Med2018 Apr 01; 18
AB  - Global ventricular impairment is a frequent presentation in clinical practice, but dissection of causative mechanisms from clinical associations is challenging. We present the case of a 19-year-old man who presented with dilated cardiomyopathy as the first presentation of coeliac disease. The manifestation of iron deficiency anaemia prompted gastroenterology input and enabled accurate diagnosis. It is unclear whether coeliac disease was simply coexistent or directly implicated in pathophysiology. Mechanisms may relate to nutritional deficiencies or autoimmune myocarditis arising from cross-reactivity. We advocate early multidisciplinary involvement in such contexts to aid with management strategy. Despite adherence to a gluten-free diet, ventricular dysfunction persisted and he has been referred to a cardiac transplant centre.