Celiac Disease

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Definition

Symptoms

Diagnosis

Treatment

Resources

Definition

Celiac/Coeliac Disease(CD), also called celiac sprue, nontropical sprue, and gluten-sensitive enteropathy, is an allergy that is triggered by the protein gluten (wheat, grain, rye, barley, etc). It is classified as both an autoimmune disorder and an absorption disorder:

Autoimmune – gluten triggers a reaction in the body to attack the small intestines and destroy the villi which line the intestinal wall and absorb nutrients from food.
Absorption – once the villi have been destroyed, the body must regenerate the damaged walls of the intestinal tract. During this process, even if the individual does not eat gluten, nutrients cannot be absorbed causing malnutrition.

CD is a lifelong genetic condition. Not all individuals with Celiac are born with it, as it is sometimes triggered by outside factors including childbirth, infection, pregnancy or surgery.

Symptoms

Celiac Disease has a wide range of symptoms that are not experienced by every individual. Researchers are studying the reasons CD can have such a variety of symptoms from case to case. However, even without symptoms, the intestine is still being damaged. Some of the symptoms are as follows:

Classic Celiac Disease Symptoms:

Abdominal cramping
Gas
Distention
Bloating
Diarrhea and/or constipation
Weight fluctuation

Other Celiac Disease Symptoms:

Dental and bone defects
Pain in muscles or joints
Fatigue
Infertility - male/female
Depression or mood swings
Ulcers
Other food allergies
Intestinal lymphoma

Most individuals diagnosed with Celiac have some level of Dermatitis Herpetiformis (DH) or Duhring’s Disease. DH is a blistering, itchy skin rash that is found most classically on the face, elbows, knees and buttocks. The cause of the rash is unknown, but it is associated with gluten intolerance and CD.

Diagnosis

Celiac Disease can be difficult to diagnose initially because of the variety of symptoms that can mimic other illnesses, issues or disorders.

Misdiagnoses of CD:

Irritable Bowl Syndrome (IBS)
Iron-deficiency
Crohn’s Disease
Diverticulitis
Infections
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)

Lab tests can be done to properly diagnosis CD if the patient or physician suspects the disorder. Most tests require the patient to eat a normal diet that includes gluten or the test will not show a false-negative. A discovery that individuals with CD tend to have high levels of autoantibodies (proteins that react against the body’s own system) can assist in a proper diagnosis.

Other levels that should be tested if CD is suspected are as follows:

Immunoglobulin A (IgA)
Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase (tTG)
IgA anti-endomysium antibodies (AEA)
If a blood test is inconclusive, a doctor can also preform a bowel biopsy where a tiny section of small intestine is removed to check for damaged villi.
Gene testing can also be done to look for Human Leukocyte Antige (HLA). A positive HLA test does not mean the individual has CD and testing should be done with an experienced physician.

Treatment

At present time, there is no treatment or cure for Celiac Disease. Individuals who are diagnosed must refrain from consuming all forms of gluten.

The change is often one of lifestyle, since gluten can be found in foods and products that most people take for granted including candies, medicines, stamps and a variety of cooking products.

If an individual with CD happens to eat gluten, symptoms and risk will return until the gluten-free diet is adopted again. In which case, the damage to the intestinal track can be healed.

Resources

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