What is Celiac's disease?

Dedicated to my dear friend and "adopted sister" Hope Welker

Celiac's disease is a serious autoimmune disorder which can occur in genetically predisposed people where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestines. It's estimated that 2 1/2 million people (bolded emphasis added) in the United States alone are undiagnosed and at risk for long-term health complications.

What causes Celiac's disease?

When a person with Celiac's disease ingests gluten (which is barley, rye, and wheat) their body mounts an autoimmune response that attacks the small intestines (see image at the top of the page). These (autoimmune) attack result in damage to the villi, finger-like projections which line the small intestine and promote nutrient absorption. This damage leads to nutrients not being properly absorbed into the body.

Celiac's disease is hereditary in nature meaning that it runs in families. People with a first-degree relative with Celiac's disease (meaning a parent, child, or sibling) have a 1 in 10 risk of developing Celiac's disease. (Bolded emphasis added) 

What are the longterm health effects?

Celiac's can develop at any age after people begin foods and medications that contain gluten. Left untreated, it can result in other immune disorders Types 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis (MS), dermatitis herpetiformis (an itchy skin rash), anemia, osteoporosis, infertility, and miscarriage. Interestingly, in recent years, different neurological disorders have been diagnosed in patient's suffering from Celiac's disease. In some patients, this may be an initial manifestation leading to the initial diagnosis and recognition of the problem be the result of Celiac's. Some of these neurological disorders might be the result of micronutrient malabsorption - particularly vitamins - while others may share an immune-mediated etiology.

How is it treated?

Currently, the only treatment for Celiac's is lifelong adherence to a strict gluten-free diet. This means they MUST (Bolded emphasis added) avoid foods that contain barley, rye, or wheat. Consuming even small amounts of these (such as crumbs on a cutting board) can result in damage to the small intestine.

My sources:

Neurological disorders in adult celiac disease

What is Celiac's disease

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Celiac Disease Foundation (N.D.). What is Celiac's disease? Retrieved on February 14, 2018 from https://celiac.org/celiac-disease/understanding-celiac-disease-2/what-is-celiac-disease/.

Freeman, Hugh, J. (2008) Neurological disorders in adult Celiac disease. Retrieved on February 15, 2018 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2661192/.