Background The link between Coeliac disease (CD) and low bone mass has been established in several large international studies.

Objectives To determinate the prevalence and risk factors of osteopenia and osteoporosis in a Tunisian population of coeliac patients.

Methods We carried a retrospective study from January 1991 to December 2015 including all cases of CD diagnosed in the departement of Gastroenterology B in Rabta's Hospital. We retained all patients having a bone mineral density (BMD). We used the WHO criteria for the diagnosis of osteoporosis and osteopenia.

Results During the period of the study, 78 cases of CD were included. Thirty among them, performed a BMD: 25 women and 5 men with an average age of 35.8 years. Malnutrtion was found in 14 patients with a BMI <20Kg /m². Smoking was found in one case. Among women, 2 were menopaused. BMD showed a low bone mass in 76,3% of patients: osteoporosis in 43.3% and osteopenia in 33.3%. The mean T score was -2.08 DS in the lumabr spine (LS) and -1DS in the Femur (F). The mean Z score was -1.66DS in LS and -0.73DS in femur. Osteoporosis was found in 13 patients: 3 men and 10 women (2 among them were menopaused). The research of risk factors of osteoporosis found a smoking (N=1), and an associated autoimmune disease in 5cases: A diabetes Mellitus in 3 patients, and an autoimmune hepatitis an Sjogren Syndrome in 1 case. Finally, a marked villous atrophy was associated to osteoporosis in 9 cases.

Conclusions Our study showed that approximately ¾ of coeliac patients had a low bone mass. Osteoporosis was found in 33% of our patients and was associated to a marked villous atrophy.

Disclosure of Interest None declared