Celiac crisis and hemorrhagic diathesis in an adult

• Autores: Smile Calixto da Costa Becker, Marcelo Campos Appel da Silva, Rafael Bergesch D'Incao, Luciana Brosina de Leon, Cristiane Valle Tovo
• Localización: Scientia Medica, ISSN-e 1980-6108, Vol. 24, Nº. 3, 2014
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • AIMS: Case-report of a patient with a rare presentation of celiac disease. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 49 year-old woman, with a long-standing course of diarrhea and weight loss of 35 kg in a three-year period, presented to the emergency department complaining of an increase in diarrheal depositions, hematemesis, melena, lethargy, anasarca and syncope episodes. After clinical evaluation, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and laboratorial exams, a rare illness known as celiac crisis was diagnosed. This is a rare presentation of celiac disease, associated with profuse diarrhea and severe metabolic/electrolyte disturbances, more frequent in children under two years, and rarely described in adults. Conclusions: Celiac disease usually manifests itself through chronic diarrhea, abdominal pain and weight loss, but celiac crisis and hemorrhagic diathesis, although rarely, may also occur.