Atypical forms of presentation of celiac disease

Abstract

Introduction. Coeliac disease is an autoimmune-based disease, triggered by the ingestion of gluten in individuals with a genetic predisposition. It presents a wide clinical variability, the most frequent symptoms being diarrhoea, weight loss and abdominal distension. We present three clinical cases with different forms of presentation. Case reports. Case 1 and 2: Two 11-month-old infants, biamniotic monochorionic twins, presented to the Emergency department with simultaneous gastrointestinal symptoms. They had diarrhoea with significant weight loss and complete oral intolerance. They required hospital admission to complete diagnosis and nutritional intervention. Case 3: 4-year-old boy attended the Emergency department for abdominal pain with abrupt onset and poor general condition, very distended abdomen with generalised defence. Imaging tests showed dilated loops of the small intestine and colon. A wait-and-see attitude was maintained without requiring surgical intervention. On re-history, the patient reported episodes of intermittent diarrhoea with abdominal pain for the last 5 months, which led to the completion of the study of coeliac disease.