Fulminant Celiac Disease Presenting in the Postpartum Period

Abstract

Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated disorder of the small intestine triggered by dietary exposure to gluten in genetically susceptible individuals. Adult CD usually has an insidious onset with gastrointestinal symptoms, most often diarrhea and weight loss. The association between CD and reproductive abnormalities has been well described in the literature, but it is uncommon for CD to initially manifest during pregnancy or the postpartum period. We report a case of adult CD in a previously healthy woman with a life-threatening presentation during the postpartum period.