Thirty-four patients with short stature of undetermined cause and no gastrointestinal symptoms underwent jejunal biopsy for exclusion of coeliac disease. Eight had subtotal or severe partial villous atrophy and seven showed a significant acceleration in height and weight velocity after the introduction of a gluten-free diet. Short stature by itself, in the complete absence of gastrointestinal symptoms, is an indication for jejunal biopsy, particularly if bone age is delayed by more than 4 years and/or there are associated haematological abnormalities.