[Celiac disease presenting as an intestinal intussusception. Report of one case]

The usual form of presentation of celiac disease is chronic diarrhoea and deficiencies of vitamin D, vitamin K, iron and vitamin B12, due to malabsorption. Intestinal obstruction secondary to an intussusception is rare in adults and usually is a complication of carcinoma of the colon or post-operative adhesions. We report a 45 year-old female consulting for diarrhoea and vomiting lasting one week and progressive abdominal bloating. A plain abdominal X ray showed air fluid levels in the small bowel and a CT scan showed an intussusception. She was operated and discharged but continued with diarrhoea. She was admitted again and a new CT scan showed three intussusceptions that were resolved with the administration of oral contrast media. Antiendomisial antibodies were positive and a celiac disease was diagnosed. After one year with a gluten free diet, the patient remains asymptomatic.