Adult celiac disease presented with celiac crisis: Report of two cases

Abstract

Two patients (case 1: 29 years old and case 2: 66 years old. female) with no known medical history of chronic diseases, including celiac disease, presented to the hospital with prolonged diarrhea, weight loss, and severe hypocalcemia at different times. They were admitted to the hospital for hemodynamic instability in the setting of severe dehydration and electrolyte disturbances. Physical examination revealed a positive trousseau sign in Case 1. The typical laboratory features of both cases were low magnesium, low potassium, low vitamin D, low ferritin, and prolonged coagulation tests. In addition to those labs, case 2 also has metabolic acidosis. In both cases, the titers of the tissue transglutaminase IgA and IgG and the anti-endomysium antibody were high, and the histopathology of the duodenal biopsy was consistent with villous atrophy, crypt hyperplasia, and an increase in intraepithelial lymphocytes, suggesting celiac disease. Both cases responded quickly to treatment with a gluten-free diet, fluid, electrolyte, vitamin D, and K replacements, and were discharged. Celiac crisis is a rare presentation of celiac disease characterized by acute, severe metabolic imbalances resulting in high mortality and morbidity, with severe diarrhea, hypoproteinemia, and metabolic and electrolyte disturbances. It is typically seen in children under 2 years of age but can also be encountered in adulthood. Most cases respond to gluten cessation, nutritional support, and rarely steroid treatment.