A case of
celiac disease presenting as an asymptomatic
chronic persistent hepatitis in an 11-year-old girl is reported. Liver biopsy performed because of long-standing elevation of serum
transaminase levels showed a mild portal
fibrosis with mononuclear infiltrate. Immunofluorescence staining did not reveal deposits of
immunoglobulins or
complement in the liver specimen. Although the girl was totally asymptomatic, she had
steatorrhea, a delayed bone age, and an abnormal
D-xylose test. A jejunal biopsy showed villous
atrophy and increased intraepithelial lymphocytes. On a
gluten-free diet the level of
transaminases fell to normal within 1 month and remained normal. According to
biological remission, a second intestinal biopsy performed after 1 year of
gluten-free diet revealed a normal intestinal mucosa. Our report suggests that an underlying chronic intestinal disorder, and particularly
celiac disease, must be ruled out when evaluating a child with elevated levels of serum
transaminase.