Typical and atypical forms of Celiac disease in adults

Overview

The gliadin fraction of wheat gluten leads, in celiac disease, to autoimmune damage of the anatomy and function of the mucous membrane of the small intestine; at the same time it leads to the production of blood-detectable antibodies against transglutaminase and gliadin. The prevalence of celiac disease is very high /1:100/. Non-identification of the disease, which occurs in 7 out of 8 cases, leads to impaired health and to malignant tumours, particularly lymphomas. Elimination of gluten from the diet results in normalization of the pathological findings without pharmacological intervention. The comparison of diagnostic expense and the consequent treatment makes celiac disease the most effectively treatable diagnosis in internal medicine. In the article, an atypical case of celiac disease in a young male is described.

Key words:
celiac disease, celiac sprue, gluten, malabsorption syndrome.