Celiac disease (CD, also known as gluten disease, gluten allergy, etc.) is a common digestive disorder in people of European descent. It is also known as gluten diarrhea, gluten allergic enteropathy, or non-tropical diarrhea. In people with CD, gluten (a protein contained in wheat, barley, rye, etc.) damages the small intestine, causing difficulty in nutrient absorption. About one in 113 people in the United States has CD. the risk of disease is higher (one in 22) if a first-degree relative has CD. the cause of CD is unknown, but there may be an association with environmental, immune, and genetic factors.
Etiology and pathology CD is related to the immune system. several autoantibodies can be found in the blood of people with CD (antibodies are normal for the body to fight against external disease-causing factors, autoantibodies are abnormal and fight against own tissues). there is also a genetic component to CD. Almost all patients have a particular gene, but only a small number of gene carriers develop CD. when a person with CD eats or uses foods containing gluten, the body’s immune system reacts by destroying the villi (ciliated finger-like protrusions on the inner surface of the small intestine). The nutrients in food are absorbed into the bloodstream through the intestinal wall of the small intestine. The villi increase the absorption area of the small intestine. Without healthy villi, patients will become malnourished no matter what they eat.
Symptoms of CD include bloating, abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, pallor, fecal matter that is foul-smelling or oily, and weight loss. Unlike children, adults may not always present with these symptoms. Adults with CD are more likely to have anemia (decreased blood red blood cell counts), fatigue, bone and joint pain, arthritis, bone loss or osteoporosis, depression or anxiety, tingling and numbness in the hands and feet, or an itchy skin rash known as herpes itchy dermatitis.
Diagnosis and treatment Small bowel biopsy showing abnormalities of the villi is the best diagnosis of CD. Many patients with CD go undiagnosed.
The only treatment for CD is lifelong avoidance of foods containing wheat, barley or rye. Even consuming only small amounts of gluten can damage the small intestine. In children, the small intestine can be repaired within 3-6 months, but adults may take years to recover. Small amounts of oats are safe, but the equipment that processes oats often also processes grains. Rice, potatoes, soybeans, and buckwheat are safe. people with CD should learn to read the labels of foods, which is very important because gluten is often used as medicine, lip balm, vitamins, etc., and even pellagra slime.