Celiac disease (CD) AKA celiac sprue, is an auto immune disorder of the small intestine. CD affects genetically predisposed individuals when they ingest the protein gluten. Gluten is a storage protein that is necessary for the germination of grains, including; wheat, rye, barley, and to some degree, oats.When a patient with CD ingests gluten the immune system's response damages the intestinal lining mucosa through lymphocytosis, crypt hyperplasia and villous atrophy. These changes are the hallmarks of the disease and they need to be present to make a diagnosis of CD.
Unfortunately, its clinical presentation varies from the classical malabsorption symptoms with diarrhea, anemia, vitamin deficiency, abdominal distension or failure to thrive
Unfortunately, its clinical presentation varies from the classical malabsorption symptoms with diarrhea, anemia, vitamin deficiency, abdominal distension or failure to thrive