Celiac Disease
Other names: Coeliac Disease, Nontropical Sprue,
Gluten Enteropathy, Celiac Sprue, Gluten intolerance,
Sprue, Gluten-sensitive enteropathy, Dermatitis Herpetiformis,
transient gluten intolerance
Celiac disease is an autoimmune
that attacks the small intestine and is caused by
a reaction to a gluten (specifically a protein called
“Gliadin” K which is found in wheat products,but
the reaction is not an allergy to wheat products themselves).
Celiac Disease causes the small intestines to become
inflamed and then they are unable to absorb much-needed
nutrients. This can cause long-term complications
affecting the bones, connective tissues and muscles.
Some of the signs and symptoms of Celiac Disease
may include diarrhea, fatigue, abdominal discomfort,
general body pain and excessive gas. When children
are affected, they may have stunted growth or a failure
to thrive. Some people have no symptoms at all.
Celiac Disease can present in anyone at any age,
but there is a genetic link to the disease. It can
be a primary condition, or could be associated with
other conditions or diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis,
Lupus, Anemia, intestinal cancers, Down Syndrome,
thyroid diseases, neurological conditions, or Dermatitis
Herpetiformis (a chronic blistering skin condition).
There is no cure, and living with Celiac requires
a strict diet to control flare ups. Left untreated,
the lack of nutrition can cause vitamin and mineral
deficiencies, bone density loss, disorders of the
nervous system and can increases the risk of certain
cancers, especially intestinal lymphoma and bowel
cancer.
Symptoms:
Abdominal bloating
Abdominal cramps
Abdominal pain
Abdominal tenderness
Absence of period
Delayed growth in infants and children
Diarrhea
Dizziness
Excessive gas
Fainting
Fatigue
Foul stools
General body pain
Impotence
Infertility
Late start of menstruation in adolescents
Oily or frothy stools
Tan or gray stools
Vertigo
Vomiting
Watery stools
Unintentional weight loss
Diagnosis:
Diagnosis is typically made through the history of
symptoms, family medical history and blood tests.
An endoscopy and biopsy of the intestine lining may
also confirm the diagnosis. Biopsies may show malabsorption
in the intestines, while blood tests may show:
Positive Antiendomysium Antibody (EMA)
Positive Antigliadin Antibody (AGA)
Positive Antireticulin Antibody (ARA)
Elevated Antitransglutaminase Antibodies (ATA)
Low Alpha Globulin (IgA)
Elevated Immunoglobulin G (IgG) Anti-Tissue Transglutaminase
Antibodies (IgG-tTG)
Low Blood Iron
Treatment:
The main treatment for Celiac is a gluten-free diet,
since gluten proteins are what cause the reaction.
It is very important to maintain a strict diet to
keep the condition in remission, and the diet will
need to be maintained for life.
A gluten-free diet means no foods that contain wheat
rye, barley, vegetable protein, malt, modified food
starch and other foods that contain gluten. Some of
the foods containing gluten include bread, pasta,
cookies, crusts and other such foods.
In severe cases where patients don't improve with
diet alone, steroid therapy and/or immunosuppressant
therapy such as Azathioprine may be considered for
inflammation and to slow down the immune system reaction.
Prognosis:
With diet and lifestyle adjustments, most patients
do well and can stay in remission for the rest of
their lives. It is also important to continue being
screened and monitored since Celiac can lead to long-term
complications from malabsorption, such as osteoporosis,
fatigue, and increased risk of cancer.
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