Celiac Disease

Diagnosis

If you have a family history of celiac disease or a disorder such as thyroid disease, anemia of unknown cause, type I diabetes or other immune disorders or Down's syndrome, doctors may suggest routine screening. Other patients are screened based on their symptoms.

Blood tests, such as anti-tissue translutaminase and anti-endomysial antibodies, are used to find elevated antibody levels. These elevated levels are a sign of celiac disease, since the person's immune system recognizes gluten as a foreign substance and increases the number of antibodies to fight it.

Intestinal tissue checks are performed by doctors if blood tests show elevated antibody levels. These checks confirm if a patient has celiac disease. The test involves a microscopic examination of a sample of your small intestine. A thin, flexible tube is inserted through the mouth, esophagus and stomach and into the small intestine to take a small tissue sample. The doctor will check the specimen for damage to the villi (tiny, hairlike projections from the small intestine that absorb vitamins, minerals and other nutrients from the food you eat).

Complications

Many complications can arise from this disease if left undiagnosed or untreated, including those listed below:

Malnutrition

Untreated celiac disease often leads to malabsorption and eventually malnutrition. A person with malnutrition may have a balanced diet; however, celiac disease causes vital nutrients to be lost in the stool instead of being absorbed into the bloodstream. Loss of essential vitamins may cause anemia, iron deficiency and weight loss, as well as stunted growth in children.

Loss of Calcium and Bone Density

Because vitamin D and calcium are lost in the stool, bone disease is common among people with celiac disease. Many people develop soft bones and osteoporosis, a decrease in bone density. Rarely, calcium loss can cause a type of kidney stone (calcium oxalate stone).

Lactose Intolerance

When the small intestine is damaged by celiac disease, some people develop intolerance to lactose in milk, which calls for a diet restricted in both gluten and dairy products. After the celiac disease is treated, some may continue to experience lactose intolerance indefinitely.

Cancer

Those affected with celiac disease are required to maintain a strict, gluten-free diet. Those who continue to consume gluten are at higher risk of developing cancer, especially bowel cancer or intestinal lymphoma.

Neurological Complications

Celiac has been associated with disorders of the nervous system. If left untreated, it may trigger seizures (epilepsy) or nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy).