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. 2025 Jul;16(7):1525-1528.
doi: 10.1007/s13300-025-01744-5. Epub 2025 May 8.

Pseudoascites Due to Celiac Disease in a Patient with Type 1 Diabetes

David S H Bell  1 , Terri Jerkins  2
Affiliations

Pseudoascites Due to Celiac Disease in a Patient with Type 1 Diabetes

David S H Bell et al. Diabetes Ther. 2025 Jul.

Abstract

Ascites presenting in a patient with type 1 diabetes is usually due to cardiac, hepatic, or renal disease. With these conditions, aspiration of the peritoneal cavity will result in a sample of peritoneal fluid being obtained. However, if there is under 25 ml or no fluid is present in the peritoneal cavity, the diagnosis is that of pseudoascites. Herein, we describe the first case of pseudoascites due to celiac disease occurring not only in an adult with type 1 diabetes but also in any adult. Since celiac disease is eight times more common in patients with type 1 diabetes, on the basis of this report, we recommend that patients with type 1 diabetes and abdominal symptoms be serologically screened at least once for celiac disease, as well as every patient with type 1 diabetes .

Keywords: Celiac disease; Pseudoascites; Type 1 diabetes.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of Interest: David S. H. Bell is an Editorial Board member of Diabetes Therapy. David S. H. Bell was not involved in the selection of peer reviewers for the manuscript nor any of the subsequent editorial decisions. Dr. Terri Jerkins does not have any conflicts of interest. Ethics Approval: Written and informed consent to publish was obtained from the patient in this case report.

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