Celiac Disease (CD) is a hereditary, autoimmune disease in which the tissues fo the small intestines become damaged when exposed to gluten, which is the protein found in wheat, rye and barley. When the lining of the small intestines (villi) becomes damaged it can no longer properly absorb vital vitamins and nutrients. The resulting malnutrition leads to a host of other issues (anemia, osteoperosis and vitamin deficiency to name a few).
Symptoms: While varied and inconsistent from one person to the next, the symptoms can include any or none (asymptomatic Celiac Disease) of the following: vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal cramping, abdominal bloating, severe vitamin deficiency, anemia, weight loss, fatigue, infertility, osteoperosis and osteopenia.
Diagnosis: Diagnosing Celiac Disease requires either a series of blood tests and/or a small intestine biopsy. The blood tests measure levels of specific antibodies. Elevated levels of those antibodies indicates Celiac Disease. A biopsy, on the other hand, is done during an endoscopy. Trained doctors look for flattened villi along the intestinal wall. Truncated villi are the result of inflammation in the small intestines and indicates Celiac Disease.
Undiagnosed Celiac Disease can result in dehydration, electrolyte depletion, central nervous system problems and behavioral problems in children. People with undiagnosed Celiac Disease or Celiacs that are not compliant on the gluten-free diet are twice as likely to develop non-Hodgkins lymphoma, esophageal carcinoma, small intestinal adenocarcinoma and melanoma. Strict adherence to the gluten-free diet reduces the risk of developing the above cancers with the exception of non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. For a reason that remains unclear there is still a strong association between Celiac Disease and non-Hodgkins Lymphoma despite the gluten-free diet.
Treatment: The only treatment for Celiac Disease is the strict adherence to a gluten-free diet. Even small amounts of gluten will trigger an autoimmune response resulting in damage to the small intestines.
If you suspect Celiac Disease please consult your doctor. Do not start a gluten-free diet until you have consulted a physician.
