Alternate Names : Celiac Sprue - Diet, Gluten Sensitive Enteropathy - Diet, Gluten-Free Diet

Definition

Celiac disease is an inherited autoimmune disease that usually affects several organs in the body before diagnosis and treatment. When a person with celiac disease consumes any food, beverage, or medication containing wheat, barley, rye, and possibly oats, their immune system is "triggered" and responds by damaging the lining of the intestinal tract.

As a result, the absorption of nutrients is altered and the risk of developing other autoimmune disorders, infertility, miscarriage, neurological conditions, osteoporosis, and certain types of cancer is increased.

The symptoms of untreated celiac disease can be intestinal in nature (such as constipation, recurrent abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, weight loss, lactose intolerance, malnutrition) or seemingly non-intestinal (anemia, fatigue, muscle cramps, bone and joint pain, mouth ulcers, irritability, seizures, depression). Some people have no symptoms whatsoever. Lactose intolerance is common upon diagnosis and typically resolves after treatment.

Blood work screening is usually the first step in making a diagnosis. The diagnosis can be confirmed by conducting an endoscopy (EGD) with biopsy samples. The disease can first develop at any point in life from infancy to late adulthood. The cause for the disease is unknown.

There is no known cure at this time but there is an effective treatment -- the gluten-free diet. This diet, when followed stringently, is effective because it eliminates the "triggers," thereby preventing symptoms and manifestations of the disease.