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    Can J Gastroenterol. 2008 Jun;22(6):574-6.

    Celiac crisis in an adult on immunosuppressive therapy.

    Al Shammeri O, Duerksen DR.

    Department of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba.

    'Celiac crisis' is a rare presentation of celiac disease with manifestations that include severe diarrhea, and severe metabolic and electrolyte abnormalities. It is most frequently seen in children younger than two years of age and has been rarely described in adults. A case of a 50-year-old woman who presented with diarrhea, severe dehydration, hypokalemia and metabolic acidosis is described. Based on positive serology and small bowel biopsy, she was diagnosed with celiac disease. She also had histological evidence of lymphocytic colitis. Microscopic colitis has not previously been described in association with celiac crisis, but it may have contributed to the presentation of celiac crisis in the current case. The patient was on corticosteroids and azathioprine for autoimmune hepatitis at the time of her presentation. The current case demonstrates that modest immunosuppression does not prevent a celiac crisis, although previous reports have shown that patients may respond rapidly to high-dose corticosteroids.

    PMID: 18560637 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

    PMCID: 2660817

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    Patient drug information

    • Azathioprine (Azasan®, Imuran®)

      Azathioprine is used with other medications to prevent rejection of kidney transplants. It is also used to treat severe rheumatoid arthritis (a condition in which the body attacks its own joints, causing pain and swellin...