Coeliac disease
Autoimmune disorder that results in a reaction to gluten / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Coeliac disease (British English) or celiac disease (American English) is a long-term autoimmune disorder, primarily affecting the small intestine, where individuals develop intolerance to gluten, present in foods such as wheat, rye and barley.[10] Classic symptoms include gastrointestinal problems such as chronic diarrhoea, abdominal distention, malabsorption, loss of appetite, and among children failure to grow normally.[1] Non-classic symptoms are more common, especially in people older than two years.[8][15][16] There may be mild or absent gastrointestinal symptoms, a wide number of symptoms involving any part of the body, or no obvious symptoms.[1] Coeliac disease was first described in childhood;[6][8] however, it may develop at any age.[1][8] It is associated with other autoimmune diseases, such as Type 1 diabetes mellitus and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, among others.[6]
Coeliac disease is caused by a reaction to gluten, a group of various proteins found in wheat and in other grains such as barley and rye.[9][17][18] Moderate quantities of oats, free of contamination with other gluten-containing grains, are usually tolerated.[17][19] The occurrence of problems may depend on the variety of oat.[17][20] It occurs more often in people who are genetically predisposed.[10] Upon exposure to gluten, an abnormal immune response may lead to the production of several different autoantibodies that can affect a number of different organs.[4][21] In the small bowel, this causes an inflammatory reaction and may produce shortening of the villi lining the small intestine (villous atrophy).[10][11] This affects the absorption of nutrients, frequently leading to anaemia.[10][18]
Diagnosis is typically made by a combination of blood antibody tests and intestinal biopsies, helped by specific genetic testing.[10] Making the diagnosis is not always straightforward.[22] About 10% of the time, the autoantibodies in the blood are negative,[23][24] and many people have only minor intestinal changes with normal villi.[25] People may have severe symptoms and they may be investigated for years before a diagnosis is achieved.[26][27] As a result of screening, the diagnosis is increasingly being made in people who have no symptoms.[28] Evidence regarding the effects of screening, however, is not sufficient to determine its usefulness.[29] While the disease is caused by a permanent intolerance to gluten proteins,[10] it is distinct from wheat allergy, which is much more rare.[30]
The only known effective treatment is a strict lifelong gluten-free diet, which leads to recovery of the intestinal lining (mucous membrane), improves symptoms, and reduces the risk of developing complications in most people.[13] If untreated, it may result in cancers such as intestinal lymphoma, and a slightly increased risk of early death.[3] Rates vary between different regions of the world, from as few as 1 in 300 to as many as 1 in 40, with an average of between 1 in 100 and 1 in 170 people.[14] It is estimated that 80% of cases remain undiagnosed, usually because of minimal or absent gastrointestinal complaints and lack of knowledge of symptoms and diagnostic criteria.[5][26][31] Coeliac disease is slightly more common in women than in men.[32]