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Celiac
GIG Education
Bulletin
Disease
Updated April 2009
What you need to know about celiac disease
Questions to ask your
Celiac disease (CD), also referred to as gluten sensitive enteropathy (GSE), or celiac
doctor:
sprue, is a chronic, inherited digestive disease that can lead to malnutrition if untreated.
CD is the result of an immune system response to the ingestion of gluten (a protein
Should I take
found in wheat, rye, and barley) that damages the small intestine. When the small
nutritional
intestine is damaged, nutrients pass through the small intestine, rather than get
supplements?
absorbed. To develop celiac disease (CD), you must inherit a gene, be consuming
gluten, and have the disease activated. Common triggers include stress, trauma
Could I have
(surgeries, etc.) and possibly viral infections. Approximately 10% of first-degree
associated food
relatives could have CD triggered in their lifetime. The disease is permanent and
intolerances?
damage to the small intestine will occur every time you consume gluten, regardless if
symptoms are present.
Where can I have a
Celiac disease is a genetic disorder affecting 1:133 persons in the United States,
bone-density study?
potentially 2 million people. For every person diagnosed with CD, approximately 80
people are undiagnosed.
What other concerns
should I have?
Symptoms
Classic symptoms include: diarrhea, bloating, weight loss, anemia, chronic fatigue,
How can I find out
weakness, bone pain and muscle cramps. Other symptoms may include constipation,
about the diet?
constipation alternating with diarrhea, or premature osteoporosis. Overweight
persons may also have undiagnosed celiac disease. Children may exhibit behavioral or
How often should I
concentration problems, diarrhea, bloated abdomen, growth failure, dental enamel
follow-up with the
defects, or projectile vomiting.
doctor? With the
Many people will not have classic symptoms and some people may have just one or
dietitian?
more symptoms. Other symptoms can include anemia, chronic fatigue or pain
syndromes, migraines, nerve problems, infertility or miscarriages, and other apparently
unrelated conditions. Patients are frequently misdiagnosed as having Irritable Bowel
Syndrome (IBS), spastic colon/bowel, or Crohn’s disease.
Diagnosis
Initial screening for CD is a blood test ordered by your physician. The following tests
should be included in the screening test:
- Tissue Transglutaminase IgA and IgG
(tTG-IgA and IgG)
or Anti-endomysial Antibodies IgA (EMA IgA)
- IgA Deficiency Test
If these tests suggest celiac disease, it is then recommended that an heplotype test for
HLA DQ2 and DQ8 be performed.
If this test also suggests celiac disease, then a small intestine biopsy is done. A positive
small intestine biopsy (showing damaged villi) is the “gold standard” for a diagnosis of
celiac disease.
Treatment
© Copyright Gluten Intolerance
Strict adherence to a gluten-free (GF) diet for life is the only treatment currently
Group of North America, 2006.
This document may be
available. This involves the elimination of wheat, rye, barley, and foods made with
reproduced for educational
these grains from your diet. Medication is not normally required, unless there is an
purpose only.
accompanying condition, such as osteoporosis or dermatitis herpetiformis. Thriving or
Other documents like this one are
showing improvement on the gluten-free diet is the second half of the “gold standard”
available at www.GLUTEN.net.
of being diagnosed with CD.
Advances in celiac disease are
It may take several months for the small intestine to completely heal. Improvement is
fast-paced. If this document is
more than 2 years old, please
measured by regularly monitoring the blood tests for celiac disease and showing
visit our Web site for updated
improved health. When you are on a GF diet, blood tests should eventually come
documents.
back to normal. This indicates good control of the celiac disease - not a cure. You will
This information should not be
always require a gluten-free diet until another form of treatment is discovered.
used to diagnose or treat celiac
disease. See your health care
team for diagnosis and treatment
The Diet
options specifically for you.
The gluten-free (GF) diet is a lifelong commitment and should not be started before
being properly diagnosed with CD. Starting the diet without complete testing is not
Visit your local GIG Branch:
recommended and makes later diagnosis difficult. Tests to confirm CD could be
negative if a person were on a GF diet for a period of time. For a valid diagnosis,
gluten would need to be reintroduced for several weeks before testing. Celiac disease
is an inherited autoimmune digestive disease and confirmation of CD will help future
generations be aware of the risk within the family. For further information and more
details about the diet, please contact GIG to obtain the Quick Start Diet Guide for
Celiac Disease.
Prognosis
Generally excellent, if you stay on a strict gluten-free diet. The small intestine will
steadily heal and start absorbing nutrients normally. You should start to feel better
within days; however, complete recovery may take several months.
Gluten Intolerance Group
(GIG) of North America®
31214 – 124th Ave. S.E.
Auburn, WA 98092-3667
Phone: 253-833-6655
Fax: 253-833-6675
www.GLUTEN.net
info@GLUTEN.net
GIG is a nonprofit 501c3
national organization providing
support for per persons with
gluten intolerances, in order to
live health, productive lives.
GIG Branches provide support
at a local level.
To make a donation or become
a volunteer to GIG, visit our
Web site or call the office at
253-833-6655.