[Hypoplasia of enamel. A useful marker in the diagnosis of celiac disease in its subclinical form]. / Ipoplasia dello smalto. "Marker" utile nella diagnosi di malattia celiaca in forma subclinica.

Oral cavity alterations are often indicative sign of chronic gastrointestinal disorders, such as malabsorption and malnutrition syndromes. The relationship between oral pathology and intestinal diseases is rarely a chance association. This prompted odontostomatological research to focus on the study of alterations of the oral cavity, hypotetical markers of intestinal disorders if they can be measured in terms of frequency and incidence, as a tool for the early diagnosis of the intestinal disease itself. This paper should be seen against this background since it examines the possible connection between celiac disease and the presence of oral alterations as an index of disease.

[Oral cavity changes in the child with celiac disease]. / Modificazioni del cavo orale nel bambino affetto da malattia celiaca.

Twenty-nine patients (of both sexes aged between 8 and 18 years old) were referred to our attention with a probable history of celiac disease; intestinal biopsy was positive for the said pathology. Biopsies were compared to a second group of 29 age- and sex-matched control subjects not suffering from gastrointestinal diseases and/or disorders of the phosphocalcium metabolism. The aim of the study was to highlight the possible presence, frequency and extent of oral alterations in confirmed celiac subjects in order to evaluate their greater or lesser incidence compared to controls. The results obtained confirm that celiac patients are more likely to manifest oral pathologies.