Celiac disease: overview and clinical manifestations

Celiac Disease

A Beginner's Guide to Celiac Disease

An informational guide to help you and your family cope with Celiac Disease from a medical and psychological perspective.

For more information or to find a specialist in your area, please phone us at:

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The Center for Celiac Information is Dedicated to:

Proactively disseminate educational materials on celiac disease for individuals, their families, and other interested parties.

To service as a vehicle for providing support and networking opportunities.

To provide the most current medical, dietary and legal information about the condition.

To act as a conduit for public and private funding and foundational efforts.

To collect information and ideas from patients and care givers that allows for the best and most up-to-date information available for celiac patients around the world.

The Medical Perspective

Celiac Disease is characterized by:

An autoimmune disorder of the small intestine.

Characterized by pain and discomfort in the digestive tract including chronic constipation, diarrhea anemia, and fatigue.

Additional symptoms include bloat, mouth ulcers, cramping, and mal- odorous diarrhea.

Celiacs have trouble absorbing carbohydrates and fats, which cause weight loss and, in children, failure to thrive

Certain calcium and vitamin D malabsorption may result in osteo related issues

Some celiacs have abnormal coagulation due to a Vitamin K

Causes

Celiac disease is causes by a reaction to gliadin, a gluten protein found in wheat, barley and rye.

Some celiacs even react to oats, and must be wary.

Noncereal carbohydrate-rich foods like potatoes and bananas do not contain gluten and do not trigger symptoms.

New research shows that individuals exposed to wheat, barley or rye before the gut barrier has fully developed (first 90 days after birth) have 5 times the risk of developing celiac disease.

Celiac disease has a genetic predisposition, and some researchers believe that certain demographics and populations have a greater chance of manifesting the disease.

Tests Doctors May Use to Diagnose Celiac Disease

Small Intestine Biopsy

Blood Antibody Tests (IgAtTG, IgAEMA

Standard Physical Exam

CBC )anemia, chemistry screen, cholesterol and triglycerides, thyroid hormone tests)

Bone density tests

Blood tests to assess antibodies

See: Web MD: http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/celiac-disease/celiac-disease-exams-and-tests

The Celiac Diet

A Gluten Free diet is a diet that excludes the proteins found in wheat, barley, rye and triticale. Switching to a gluten free diet may be frustrating, but more and more grocery stores and manufacturers are providing foods that will work for celiac patients.

A number of healthy foods are tasty and gluten free: beans, seeds and nuts, fresh eggs, fresh meats, fish and poultry (not breaded or battered), fruits and vegetables, and even most dairy products.