celiac disease

What is Celiac Disease?

Celiac disease is a chronic digestive and immune disorder that damages the small intestine. It is triggered by eating foods containing gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and other grains.

• Autoimmune Response: When people with celiac disease eat gluten, their body mounts an immune response that attacks the small intestine, causing damage to the lining of the gut.
• Symptoms: The symptoms of celiac disease can vary from person to person but may include foul-smelling diarrhea, emaciation, and other digestive issues. [1][2]
• Triggered by Gluten: Celiac disease is triggered by consuming gluten, which is found in wheat, barley, rye, and other grains. This immune response causes damage to the small intestine.
• Chronic Digestive Disorder: Celiac disease is a chronic condition that requires lifelong management through dietary changes.

Key Points:

• Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten consumption
• The disease damages the small intestine and can cause digestive issues
• Symptoms may include foul-smelling diarrhea, emaciation, and other digestive problems
• Gluten-free diet is essential for managing celiac disease

References: [1] - Context result 2: "When people with celiac disease eat gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley), their body mounts an immune response that attacks the small intestine." [2] - Context result 10: "Result: noun | a disorder in children and adults; inability to tolerate wheat protein (gluten); symptoms include foul-smelling diarrhea and emaciation;" [3] - Context result 4: "Overview of celiac disease, a chronic digestive and autoimmune disorder that damages the small intestine and is triggered by eating foods containing gluten." [4] - Context result 8: "Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that's triggered by consuming gluten and results in damage to the small intestine."

Common Signs and Symptoms of Celiac Disease

Celiac disease, also known as gluten-sensitive enteropathy, is a chronic autoimmune disorder that affects the small intestine and causes various symptoms. The signs and symptoms of celiac disease can vary from person to person, but here are some common ones:

• Digestive Issues: Diarrhea, constipation, bloating, gas, abdominal pain, and pale, foul-smelling stools are all common digestive issues associated with celiac disease [1][2][7].
• Malabsorption Symptoms: Weight loss, fatigue, weakness, and malnutrition can occur due to the body's inability to absorb essential nutrients from food [3][4].
• Mental Health Issues: Depression, anxiety, irritability (in children), and mood swings are also symptoms of celiac disease [5][6].

Other Possible Symptoms

Some people may experience additional symptoms, such as:

• Headaches
• Mouth sores
• Dermatitis herpetiformis (an itchy rash)
• Cold hands and feet
• Brittle or concave nails

It's essential to note that the severity of symptoms can vary greatly from person to person. Some individuals may have mild symptoms, while others may experience more severe manifestations.

References

[1] Context result 2: Diarrhea is one of the first symptoms that many people experience before being diagnosed with celiac disease. [2] Context result 7: Bloating, constipation, diarrhea, gas, etc. are associated with a number of digestive symptoms, including both diarrhea and constipation. [3] Context result 4: Weakness and fatigue can occur due to malnutrition caused by celiac disease. [4] Context result 1: Malabsorption symptoms include weight loss, fatigue, weakness, and pallor (pale complexion). [5] Context result 5: Depression and anxiety are common mental health issues associated with celiac disease. [6] Context result 3: Some people may feel moody or depressed due to celiac disease. [7] Context result 9: Chronic diarrhea or constipation, nausea, vomiting, pale, foul-smelling stool, and fatty stools are all symptoms of celiac disease.

Diagnosing Celiac Disease: A Step-by-Step Guide

Celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that causes the immune system to react to gluten, can be challenging to diagnose. However, with a combination of blood tests and intestinal biopsies, healthcare professionals can accurately identify the condition.

• Blood Tests: The first step in diagnosing celiac disease is often a simple blood test [1]. This test checks for certain antibodies in your blood that are associated with the condition. Almost everyone who has celiac disease will have elevated levels of these antibodies [4].
• Serologic Tests and Intestinal Biopsies: Health care professionals most often use serologic tests and intestinal biopsies to diagnose celiac disease [2]. If serologic tests suggest that a patient could have celiac disease, a biopsy is usually performed to confirm the diagnosis.
• Blood Test for Celiac Disease: A blood test can detect the presence of certain antibodies in your blood, which are associated with celiac disease. This test is often used as a screening tool before moving on to more definitive tests [6].
• Recommended Blood Tests: The American College of Gastroenterology recommends using DGP-IgG testing along with anti-tTG IgG for people with low IgA or IgA deficiency [9]. These blood tests are the main tools used to diagnose and monitor celiac disease.
• Other Diagnostic Methods: In addition to blood tests, doctors may also use endoscopy and genetic testing to confirm a diagnosis of celiac disease. However, these methods are not as commonly used as blood tests.

Key Takeaways

• A simple blood test can detect the presence of certain antibodies associated with celiac disease.
• Serologic tests and intestinal biopsies are often used together to diagnose celiac disease.
• Recommended blood tests include DGP-IgG testing along with anti-tTG IgG for people with low IgA or IgA deficiency.

References

[1] A simple blood test is available to test for celiac disease. People with celiac disease who eat gluten have higher than normal levels of certain antibodies ...

[2] Health care professionals most often use serologic tests and intestinal biopsies to diagnose celiac disease. If serologic tests suggest that a patient could ...

[4] Nov 26, 2022 — To find out if you have celiac disease, you may first get: Blood test. This test checks for certain antibodies in your blood.

[6] Learn about celiac disease testing, including blood tests, endoscopy, and genetic testing. Celiac disease can be difficult to diagnose without a blood test.

[9] Nov 15, 2022 — DGP-IgG testing, along with anti-tTG IgG, is recommended by the American College of Gastroenterology for people with low IgA or IgA deficiency.

Current Status of Drug Treatment for Celiac Disease

Celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder caused by a reaction to gluten, currently has no approved medication for treatment. However, several potential treatments are being researched and tested in clinical trials.

• Teriflunomide: Investigators at Oslo University Hospital are testing the effects of teriflunomide on patients with celiac disease [1]. While results are not yet available, this study suggests that researchers are exploring various options for treating celiac disease.
• KAN-101: Anokion's KAN-101 is being tested in clinical trials and aims to restore normal immune tolerance of gluten as a way of treating celiac disease [3]. This approach targets the underlying cause of the condition, rather than just managing symptoms.
• ZED1227: ZED1227 could be used alongside a gluten-free diet to help manage celiac disease [5]. This drug has shown promise in reducing inflammation and damage caused by gluten in mice studies.
• DONQ52: DONQ52 was shown to successfully block the immune reaction to gluten in mice, while leaving the rest of the immune system intact [7]. While this is an encouraging finding, further research is needed to confirm its effectiveness in humans.

Other Potential Treatments

In addition to these specific treatments, other medications like azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran) or budesonide (Entocort EC, Uceris) might be used to treat celiac disease-related symptoms [6]. However, it's essential to note that these are not specifically designed for treating celiac disease and may have varying degrees of success.

Current Limitations

It's crucial to remember that there is no medication that treats celiac disease at present. A life-long strict gluten-free diet remains the only available treatment option [4]. Researchers continue to explore new treatments, but more studies are needed to confirm their effectiveness and safety for human use.

References: [1] Context 1 [3] Context 3 [5] Context 5 [6] Context 6 [7] Context 7

Differential Diagnosis of Celiac Disease

Celiac disease, also known as celiac sprue, is a chronic autoimmune disorder that primarily affects the small intestine and is triggered by the ingestion of gluten in individuals with genetic predisposition. The differential diagnosis of celiac disease involves identifying other conditions that may present similar symptoms, making it essential to consider these possibilities when diagnosing and treating patients.

Conditions to Consider

• Non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS): A condition characterized by symptoms similar to celiac disease, but without the same level of immune system activation and intestinal damage.
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): A functional gastrointestinal disorder that can cause abdominal pain, changes in bowel habits, and bloating.
• Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD): Conditions such as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, which involve chronic inflammation of the digestive tract.
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): A condition where stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, causing symptoms like heartburn and regurgitation.

Key Diagnostic Features

To differentiate celiac disease from these conditions, healthcare providers should look for specific diagnostic features:

• Serological tests: Blood tests that detect antibodies against tissue transglutaminase (tTGA) or endomysial antibodies (EMA), which are commonly elevated in celiac disease.
• Intestinal biopsy: A procedure where a small sample of intestinal tissue is taken for histopathological examination, showing villous atrophy and increased intraepithelial lymphocytes in celiac disease.
• Clinical presentation: Celiac disease often presents with symptoms like diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, and fatigue, which can be similar to those seen in other conditions.

References

1. Ludvigsson JF, Zingone F, Tomson T, Ekbom A, Ciacci C. Increased risk of epilepsy in biopsy-verified celiac disease: A population-based cohort study.
2. CP Kelly · Cited by 15 — Celiac disease should be differentiated from nonceliac gluten sensitivity in order to identify the risk for nutritional deficiency and ...
3. M Hahn · 2014 · Cited by 17 — From a differential diagnostic perspective, a seronegative local form of celiac disease should be considered (local transglutaminase-IgA immune response) and ...

Citations

[1][2][3]