Toxic megacolon: a potentially lethal condition. Case report.

Toxic megacolon denotes an abrupt non-obstructive distension of the colon, accompanied by systemic signs of toxicity. Mortality rates can soar as high as 7.9%. While primarily linked with chronic bowel conditions, the incidence attributed to Clostridioides difficile has surged due to the indiscriminate use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Surgical intervention becomes necessary in the majority of cases. Herein, we illustrate the case of a 50-year-old female presenting with episodic epigastric pain lasting 9 h, vomiting, and watery bowel movements, devoid of peritoneal irritation findings and lacking a history of chronic intestinal inflammation. Under certain circumstances, toxic megacolon may manifest atypically, underscoring the importance of conducting a comprehensive medical history and clinical assessment. Moreover, it is imperative to solicit pertinent paraclinical investigations to address the patient holistically and foster a favorable clinical outcome.

Testing and Diagnosis of Clostridioides difficile Infection in Special Scenarios: A Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a clinical and laboratory diagnosis. Populations at higher risk of developing disease require a high clinical index of suspicion for laboratory testing to avoid incorrect assumptions of colonization. Common risk factors include recent antibiotic use, elderly (>65 years old), and immunocompromised patients. C. difficile assays should be ordered in an algorithm approach to diagnose an infection rather than colonization. Screening tests are widely available in hospital systems, but novel molecular testing may aid in diagnosis in patients with inconclusive or discordant antigen and toxin test results.  Methods: Data was extracted from PubMed, Scopus, and Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases based on the keywords "clostridioides difficile", "toxin assay", and "toxic megacolon". The data extracted is based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. A total of 27 reports were included in this systematic review. RESULTS: Testing patients with a significant gastrointestinal surgical history, hypogammaglobulinemia, inflammatory bowel disease, intensive care unit, and immunocompromised patients for CDI is highly recommended. Diarrhea in these subsets of patients requires correlation of clinical context and an understanding of assay results to avoid over- and under-treating. CONCLUSION: CDI should be considered in all patients with traditional risk factors. Heightened clinical suspicion of CDI is required in patients with hypogammaglobulinemia, transplant recipients, patients with gastrointestinal surgical history, and inflammatory bowel disease. Testing should be limited to patients with clinical manifestations of CDI to ensure a high pretest probability for test interpretation. Healthcare workers should adhere to testing algorithms to optimize yield in the appropriate clinical context. Diagnostic assays should follow a sequential, stepwise approach to categorize the toxin expression status of the bacteria accurately.

Bowel Emergencies in Patients With Cancer.

Cancer is the second most common cause of death worldwide. Bowel emergencies in patients with cancer are becoming increasingly more prevalent due to advances in cancer therapy and longer overall patient survival. When these patients present acutely, they are often frail and may have pre-existing co-morbidities. This article discusses the imaging features of bowel emergencies commonly encountered in oncological patients in clinical practice. These include chemotherapy related colitis, neutropenia enterocolitis and typhlitis, toxic megacolon, bowel perforation, malignant bowel obstruction and gastrointestinal haemorrhage. The radiologist plays a key role in identifying these oncological emergencies and guiding further management.

[A case of disseminated tuberculosis presenting as a metastasizing tumor, complicated by toxic megacolon caused by Clostridium difficile: Difficulties in diagnosis]. / Metasztatizáló tumor képét adó disszeminált tuberkulózis Clostridium difficile okozta toxicus megacolonnal szövodött esete: a diagnózis nehézségei.

A mára ritkán eloforduló tuberkulózis (tbc) extrapulmonális manifesztációi elorehaladott rosszindulatú daganatok képét utánozhatják, jelentos diagnosztikus dilemmákat okozva. A tbc igazolása gyakorta bonyolult, komplex vizsgálatokat igényel. Egy fiatal vietnámi nobeteg esetét ismertetjük, aki idült hasi fájdalom, fogyás, fejfájás, bal oldali hemiparesis miatt jelentkezett kórházunkban. Az urgens vizsgálatok hasi folyadékgyülemek, lymphadenopathia és peritonealis carcinosis képe mellett az uterushoz asszociált ökölnyi kismedencei térfoglaló képletet, intracranialisan agyödémát és metastaticusnak tuno gócokat ábrázoltak. Neurológiai, belgyógyászati, majd pulmonológiai klinikai vizsgálatok és kezelések során eloször disszeminált gynaecologiai tumor, majd meningealis-, miliaris tüdo- és kiterjedt hasüregi-kismedencei érintettséggel járó tbc gyanúja fogalmazódott meg. Bár mycobactérium jelenléte nem volt igazolható, antituberculoticus- és komplex antibiotikus terápiát alkalmaztak. Ennek szövodményeként Clostridium difficile okozta enterocolitis alakult ki. Átmeneti állapotrosszabbodás miatti intenzív osztályos kezelést követoen a beteget visszahelyezték kórházunk belgyógyászatára. Itt toxicus megacolon, acut peritonitis alakult ki, emiatt sürgos mutétet végeztünk.A hasüregben granulomatosus peritonitis encapsulans, extrém tágult, megrepedt taeniájú colon, hyperaemiás vékonybéltraktus, tuboovarialis tályogok voltak láthatók. Oncotomiát követoen salpingo-oophorectomiát és subtotalis colectomiát végeztünk, Brooke szerinti ileostomát készítettünk. Az intenzív osztályos, majd infektológiai kezelésnek köszönhetoen a beteg reconvalescentiája sikeres volt, kielégíto állapotban emittálták. A specimenek valós ideju PCR-vizsgálata során Mycobacterium DNS nem volt detektálható, végül a hasüregi váladék és granulomák mikroszkópos vizsgálatával sikerült saválló pálcákat identifikálni.Az eset kapcsán áttekintjük az extrapulmonális tbc diagnosztikus lehetoségeit és terápiás nehézségeit.

Surgical Emergencies in Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients are at risk for undergoing emergency surgery for fulminant disease, toxic megacolon, bowel perforation, intestinal obstruction, or uncontrolled gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Unfortunately, medical advancements have failed to significantly decrease rates of emergency surgery for IBD. It is therefore important for all acute care and colorectal surgeons to understand the unique considerations owed to this often-challenging patient population.

Severe Sepsis Secondary to Toxic Megacolon Revealing an Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease can present with numerous infectious complications, including intra-abdominal abscess, perforations of the intestine, fistula formation, and the occurrence of septicemia. Toxic megacolon (TM) is a potentially fatal complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and is associated with high morbidity and mortality. In this case report, we report a 49-year-old male patient who was admitted to the intensive care unit for the management of severe sepsis that was secondary to an inaugural toxic megacolon complicating a silent inflammatory bowel disease, with a Lichtiger score of 11. Nonresponse to anti-bacterial therapy, noradrenaline, and intravenous corticosteroid therapy required an emergency total colectomy. After surgery, the patient died because of his unresolved septic shock. Correct management of this condition requires an accurate assessment of the patient's history, a correct physical examination, abdominal radiographs, and sigmoid coloscopy, and frequently requires surgery. The indications for surgery in cases of toxic megacolon, massive hemorrhage, perforation, peritonitis, or non-response to medical therapy are the most important ones. Patients with a history of inflammatory bowel disease are particularly prone to infectious complications since therapy for these inflammatory diseases is based on the use of immunosuppressive drugs and frequent abdominal surgeries.

Synchronous colon cancer presenting as toxic megacolon in a patient with ulcerative colitis: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: The incidence of colorectal cancer in patients with inflammatory bowel disease is greater than the general population. Of those with inflammatory bowel disease, synchronous cancers are more common in ulcerative colitis than in Crohn's disease. It is rare for synchronous cancer to present as toxic megacolon in a patient with concomitant inflammatory bowel disease, specifically ulcerative colitis. CASE PRESENTATION: In this report, we describe the clinical presentation of a 22-year-old female, who presented with toxic megacolon ultimately requiring total abdominal colectomy with end-ileostomy and a final pathology of two synchronous colon cancers, despite normal colonoscopy one year prior. The postoperative period was unremarkable, and the patient was referred to medical oncology to pursue adjuvant treatment. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Due to the increased incidence of colorectal cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis, screening colonoscopies are typically recommended at more frequent intervals than the general population. Toxic megacolon as the presentation for colon cancer in patients with underlying ulcerative colitis is exceedingly rare. To our knowledge, this is the first case reported of synchronous colon cancer presenting as toxic megacolon in a patient with ulcerative colitis and recent negative screening colonoscopy. CONCLUSION: Colorectal cancer should always be high in the differential diagnosis for patients with ulcerative colitis regardless of the age. The principles of oncologic resection for colorectal cancer should be followed during colonic resections in patients with ulcerative colitis, even in the acute setting.

A Case of Ulcerative Colitis Induced by Paraneoplastic Syndrome?

Background: Paraneoplastic syndromes often cause endocrine, neurological, cutaneous, and hematologic pathologies, and cases with digestive symptoms as prominent cases are rare. Case Description: A 1-year-old child admitted to the emergency department with severe abdominal distension was later diagnosed with sacrococcygeal yolk cystoma with ulcerative colitis. After symptomatic management, surgical removal of the tumor, and JEB chemotherapy, the symptoms of ulcerative colitis disappeared completely. After 7 years of follow-up, the child grew and developed well, and there was no recurrence of tumor and ulcerative colitis. Conclusion: Yolk sac tumor with ulcerative colitis is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome with complex clinical manifestations.

Fecal microbiota transplantation as potential first-line treatment for patients with Clostridioides difficile infection and prior appendectomy.

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a global health problem. The association of appendectomy on the severity and prognosis of CDI has been reported in many literatures, but there are still contradictions. In a retrospective study entitled "Patients with Closterium diffuse infection and prior appendectomy may be prone to word outcomes" published in World J Gastrointest Surg 2021, the author found that prior appendectomy affects the severity of CDI. Appendectomy may be a risk factor for increasing the severity of CDI. Therefore, it is necessary to seek alternative treatment for patients with prior appendectomy when they are more likely to have severe or fulminant CDI.

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation.

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is the process of transplanting stool from a healthy donor into the gut of a patient for therapeutic purposes. Current guidelines recommend FMT for the prevention of multiply recurrent Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) after two recurrences, with cure rates approaching 90%. Emerging evidence also supports the use of FMT in the management of severe and fulminant CDI, resulting in decreased mortality and colectomy rates compared with standard of care approach. FMT shows promise as salvage therapy for critically-ill, refractory CDI patients who are poor surgical candidates. FMT should be considered early in the clinical course of severe CDI, preferably within 48 hours of failing to respond to antibiotic therapy and volume resuscitation. Besides CDI, ulcerative colitis was more recently identified as a potential treatment target for FMT. Several live biotherapeutics for microbiome restoration are on the horizon.

Megacolon tóxico: peritonitis fecaloidea por colitis amebiana. Reporte de un caso y revisión de literatura / Toxic megacolon: fecaloid peritonitis caused by amebic colitis. Report of a case and literature review

Introducción: La amebiasis es una enfermedad causada por el parásito Entamoeba histolytica, y condiciona importantes tasas de afectación a escala global. Una de las complicaciones de la colitis amebiana es el megacolon tóxico, el cual se caracteriza por la dilatación colónica y signos de toxicidad sistémica. Aunque poco frecuente, el megacolon tóxico es considerado letal.Caso clínico : se trata de paciente femenino de 26 años, quien consulta por presentar dolor abdominal generalizado, de fuerte intensidad, tipo cólico, acompañado de náuseas y múltiples episodios eméticos. Al examen físico se precisó hemodinámicamente estable, sin signos de irritación peritoneal, por lo que es ingresada con diagnóstico de colitis amebiana. Se instaura manejo médico y es egresada por mejoría clínica. Luego de 7 días, es readmitida por deterioro clínico y distensión abdominal, realizándose diagnóstico de megacolon tóxico. Mediante laparotomía de emergencia se observa peritonitis fecaloidea difusa y perforación del ciego, se realiza hemicolectomía derecha e ileostomía terminal. Posteriormente, presenta absceso intraabdominal que fue drenado por vía percutánea. Conclusión : el megacolon tóxico es una patología infrecuente que surge como complicación de entidades como la colitis amebiana. En la actualidad, a pesar de los avances tecnológicos que han desencadenado importantes progresos en el ámbito sanitario, el diagnóstico del megacolon tóxico continúa representando un desafío para el profesional médico, por lo que la sospecha clínica es ineludible y determinante en el diagnóstico acertado y oportuno, que permiten la instauración de la terapéutica apropiada y reducción de la morbilidad y mortalidad que de esta se derivan(AU)

Introduction: Amebiasis is a disease caused by the parasite Entamoeba histolytica, and causes significant rates of infection on a global scale. One of the complications of amoebic colitis is toxic megacolon, which is characterized by colonic dilation and signs of systemic toxicity. Although rare, toxic megacolon is considered lethal. Clinical case: this is a 26-year-old female patient, who consults due to generalized abdominal pain, of strong intensity, colic type, accompanied by nausea and multiple emetic episodes. On physical examination she was found to be hemodynamically stable, with no signs of peritoneal irritation, so she was admitted with a diagnosis of amoebic colitis. Medical management was established and she was discharged due to clinical improvement. After 7 days, she was readmitted due to clinical deterioration and abdominal distention, and a diagnosis of toxic megacolon was made. Through emergency laparotomy, diffuse fecaloid peritonitis and perforation of the cecum were observed; right hemicolectomy and terminal ileostomy were performed. Subsequently, she developed an intra-abdominal abscess that was drained percutaneously. Conclusion: toxic megacolon is a rare pathology that arises as a complication of entities such as amoebic colitis. Currently, despite the technological advances that have triggered important progress in the healthcare field, the diagnosis of toxic megacolon continues to represent a challenge for the medical professional, which is why clinical suspicion is unavoidable and decisive in an accurate and timely diagnosis, which allow the establishment of appropriate therapy and reduction of the morbidity and mortality that arise from it(AU)

Fecal microbiota transplantation may reduce the mortality of patients with severe and fulminant Clostridioides difficile infection compared to standard-of-care antibiotics in a community hospital.

OBJECTIVES: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is known for significant morbidity and mortality. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an effective therapy for recurrent and resistant CDI. However, its impact on the mortality rate of patients with severe and fulminant CDI has not been rigorously studied yet. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of FMT on the mortality rate of patients with severe or fulminant CDI in a community hospital system. METHODS: Our study included 106 inpatients with severe or fulminant CDI. Both standard-of-care (SOC) and FMT were provided to 14 (13.2%) patients (the FMT group). SOC antibiotics alone were provided to 92 (86.8%) patients, out of whom 28 patients were included via propensity score matching in a 2:1 ratio (the SOC group). The primary outcome was defined as the composite end-point of mortality during admission, within 30 and 90 days after discharge, and discharge with comfort measures only. Each component was a secondary end-point. RESULTS: The primary outcome rate in the FMT group was 7.1% (1/14) compared to 25.0% (7/28) in the SOC group. Univariate analysis demonstrated that FMT decreases mortality (odds ratio [OR] 0.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.01-0.58, P = 0.01). However, multivariate regression did not show statistical significance (OR 0.15, 95% CI 0.01-2.53, P = 0.19), possibly due to the small sample size. CONCLUSIONS: FMT may decrease the mortality of patients with severe and fulminant CDI. Large studies are needed to validate these findings.

Toxic Megacolon Burdened with COVID-19 Coinfection-Worsening of an Unfavorable Diagnosis: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: This study primarily sought to evaluate the risk factors for toxic megacolon development and treatment outcomes in Clostridium difficile-positive COVID-19 patients, secondarily to determining predictors of survival. METHODS: During the second COVID-19 wave (May 2020 to May 2021), we identified 645 patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection, including 160 patients with a severe course in the intensive care unit. We selected patients with Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) (31 patients) and patients with toxic megacolon (9 patients) and analyzed possible risk factors. RESULTS: Patients who developed toxic megacolon had a higher incidence (without statistical significance, due to small sample size) of cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a higher proportion of them required antibiotic treatment using cephalosporins or penicillins, and there was a higher rate of extracorporeal circulation usage. C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 values showed significant differences between the groups (CRP [median 126 mg/L in the non-toxic megacolon cohort and 237 mg/L in the toxic megacolon cohort; p = 0.037] and interleukin-6 [median 252 ng/L in the group without toxic megacolon and 1127 ng/L in those with toxic megacolon; p = 0.016]). As possible predictors of survival, age, presence of chronic venous insufficiency, cardiac disease, mechanical ventilation, and infection with Candida species were significant for increasing the risk of death, while corticosteroid and cephalosporin treatment and current Klebsiella infection decreased this risk. CONCLUSIONS: More than ever, the COVID-19 pandemic required strong up-to-date treatment recommendations to decrease the rate of serious in-hospital complications. Further studies are required to evaluate the interplay between COVID-19 and CDI/toxic megacolon.

Role of Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Reducing Clostridioides difficile Infection-Associated Morbidity and Mortality: A Systematic Review.

Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) is a gram-positive, anaerobic, spore-forming bacterium that produces toxins A and B, disrupting the intestinal brush border and resulting in severe diarrhea. The most common causes of infection include prolonged antibiotic use, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), and long-term hospitalization resulting in complications such as pseudomembranous colitis and toxic megacolon. This systematic review aims to consider fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) as an early treatment modality in C. difficile infection to prevent complications and reduce related morbidity and mortality. We systematically screened three databases using regular keywords such as "fecal microbiota transplantation," "C. difficile," "pseudomembranous colitis," and "toxic megacolon" and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms. We applied the inclusion and exclusion criteria and performed a thorough quality appraisal using standardized checklists. We were finally left with 10 articles, including seven case reports, one case series, and two observational studies. Questions remain as to the route of administration of FMT, timing, safety, availability, and the number of sittings required. More randomized controlled trials are needed to address all these questions and to assess the safety of FMT. We believe the role of FMT is very important as it can prevent C. difficile related complications and would be an ideal treatment option in a population group that is often unfit for surgical management.

Acute Responses to Infectious and Inflammatory Disorders of the Gastrointestinal System.

Infectious and inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal system are life-threatening and occur frequently in hospitalized adults. Inflammatory and inflammation-related diseases of the gastrointestinal tract seen in the acutely and critically ill have numerous causes. In acute pancreatitis and toxic infections caused by the bacterium Clostridium difficile, where severe infections can develop, inflammation plays a causative and crucial role. Severe acute pancreatitis puts a patient at risk for infected necrosis, which can result in septicemia and shock. Similarly, patients treated with antibiotics are at risk for C difficile colitis, which can progress to toxic megacolon. These conditions require volume resuscitation and interventions supported by current evidence. Percutaneous or surgical interventions are often undertaken at a critical point in these illnesses. Patients who require surgery for these diagnoses present challenges for the interprofessional team. Inflammatory and infectious disorders often can lead to complications of systemic inflammatory response syndrome, sepsis, and multiorgan failure. New strategies are on the horizon to prevent the onset of and improve care for patients with severe acute pancreatitis, fulminant C difficile infection, and megacolon.

External Validation and Comparison of Clostridioides difficile Severity Scoring Systems.

BACKGROUND: Many models have been developed to predict severe outcomes from Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). These models are usually developed at a single institution and largely are not externally validated. Our aim in this study was to validate previously published risk scores in a multicenter cohort of patients with CDI. METHODS: This was a retrospective study on 4 inpatient cohorts with CDI from 3 distinct sites: the universities of Michigan (2010-2012 and 2016), Chicago (2012), and Wisconsin (2012). The primary composite outcome was admission to an intensive care unit, colectomy, and/or death attributed to CDI within 30 days of positive testing. Both within each cohort and combined across all cohorts, published CDI severity scores were assessed and compared to each other and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) guideline definitions of severe and fulminant CDI. RESULTS: A total of 3646 patients were included for analysis. Including the 2 IDSA guideline definitions, 14 scores were assessed. Performance of scores varied within each cohort and in the combined set (mean area under the receiver operator characteristic curve [AuROC], 0.61; range, 0.53-0.66). Only half of the scores had performance at or better than IDSA severe and fulminant definitions (AuROCs of 0.64 and 0.63, respectively). Most of the scoring systems had more false than true positives in the combined set (mean, 81.5%; range, 0%-91.5%). CONCLUSIONS: No published CDI severity score showed stable, good predictive ability for adverse outcomes across multiple cohorts/institutions or in a combined multicenter cohort.

New onset severe ulcerative colitis following Ixekizumab therapy.

Ixekizumab is one of the three biologic agents including Secukinumab and Brodalumab that targets the Interleukin-17 (IL-17) pathway to reduce inflammation in psoriasis and ankylosing spondylitis. In this report we present the case of 42-year-old woman, who was diagnosed with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. One week after first administration of Ixekizumab, she developed diffuse abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea (7-8 stools/day) and fever. Following imaging (colonoscopy, computed tomography) and laboratory investigations, she was diagnosed with acute severe ulcerative colitis complicated with toxic megacolon. The medical treatment (first corticotherapy, then infliximab) has failed and the patient needed emergency colectomy. Based on the immunological mechanisms and the observation from other studies, Ixekizumab should be considered an etiology for new-onset inflammatory bowel disease.

Patients with Clostridium difficile infection and prior appendectomy may be prone to worse outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) occurs due to a dysbiosis in the colon. The appendix is considered a 'safe house' for gut microbiota and may help repopulate gut flora of patients with CDI. AIM: To study the impact of prior appendectomy on the severity and outcomes of CDI. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed data of 1580 patients with CDI, admitted to our hospital between 2008 to 2018. Patients were grouped based on the presence or absence of the appendix. The primary aim was to (1) assess all-cause mortality and (2) the severity of CDI. Severity was defined as per the Infectious Diseases Society of America criteria. Logistic regression, and propensity score analysis using inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTW) was performed. RESULTS: Of the 1580 patients, 12.5% had a history of appendectomy. There was no statistical difference in mortality between patients with a prior appendectomy or without (13.7% vs 14%, P = 0.877). However, a history of appendectomy affected the severity of CDI [odds ratio (OR) = 1.32, 95% confidence interval: 1.01-1.75]. On IPTW, this association remained significant (OR = 1.59, P < 0.05). On multivariable analysis of secondary outcomes, prior appendectomy was also associated with toxic megacolon (OR = 5.37, P < 0.05) and colectomy (OR = 2.77, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Prior appendectomy may affect the severity of CDI, development of toxic megacolon and the eventual need for colectomy. Since treatment of CDI is governed by its severity, stronger antibiotic regimens or earlier use of fecal microbiota transplant may be a viable option for patients with prior appendectomy.

Colitis ulcerosa en paciente con enfermedad celiaca silente

RESUMEN Se presenta caso de mujer con enfermedad celiaca que presentó colitis ulcerosa complicada con megacolon tóxico. El cuadro revirtió con inmunosupresores y tratamiento médico. Se sugiere a los médicos la búsqueda activa de enfermedades autoinmunes asociadas, además del diagnóstico precoz y tratamiento oportuno de la enfermedad celiaca para evitar complicaciones.

ABSTRACT We present case of a woman with celiac disease who presented ulcerative colitis complicated with toxic megacolon. The condition reversed with immunosuppressants and medical treatment. Physicians are advised to actively search for associated autoimmune diseases, as well as early diagnosis and timely treatment of celiac disease to avoid complications.

RESUMO Apresentamos o caso de uma mulher com doença celíaca que apresentou colite ulcerosa complicada com megacolo tóxico. A condição foi revertida com imunossupressores e tratamento médico. Os médicos são aconselhados a pesquisar ativamente as doenças autoimunes associadas, além do diagnóstico precoce e do tratamento oportuno da doença celíaca para evitar complicações.