Celiac Crisis: A Rare Medical Emergency Case Report in Adult Celiac Disease

TL;DR

This paper reports a rare case of celiac crisis in a pregnant woman, emphasizing the need for early diagnosis and treatment to prevent severe complications.

Contribution

The novelty lies in presenting a rare case of celiac crisis in pregnancy and highlighting its management with a gluten-free diet and corticosteroids.

Findings

Celiac crisis can present with severe dehydration and steatorrhea in undiagnosed celiac disease.

Prompt treatment with a gluten-free diet and corticosteroids led to rapid improvement in the patient.

Early recognition of celiac crisis is crucial to prevent maternal and fetal complications.

Abstract

Celiac crisis (CC) is a rare but potentially life-threatening complication of celiac disease (CD), characterized by severe diarrhea, electrolyte imbalances, and metabolic disturbances. We report the case of a 32-year-old pregnant woman presented significant dehydration, weight loss, and steatorrheic stools. Diagnosis was confirmed by duodenal biopsy, with rapid improvement following a gluten-free diet (GFD) and corticosteroids. The diagnosis of CC was established based on the acute clinical presentation and rapid improvement following a GFD and corticosteroid therapy. This case highlights the importance of early recognition and prompt management of CC, particularly in undiagnosed or untreated CD, to prevent severe maternal and fetal complications.