Adult celiac disease presented with celiac crisis - Severe diarrhea, hypokalemia, and acidosis

An acute severe onset of celiac disease is very uncommon in adults. We desc ribe a patient with adult celiac disease who presented with acute diarrhea that lead rapidly to a life threatening hypokalemia and acidosis, the so-ca lled celiac crisis. Celiac crisis, described mainly in children younger tha n two years of age, has become very rare due to earlier diagnosis and effec tive therapy of the disease. The case described is an example of the hetero geneous clinical course of celiac disease and emphasizes the need to consid er it in the differential diagnosis, even in adults suffering from acute di arrhea and acidosis.