Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder — a condition in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue when exposed to an organism or substance it believes to be harmful. In the case of celiac disease, that substance happens to be gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and triticale (a wheat-rye hybrid). People can develop celiac disease at any age, and symptoms vary widely, making it difficult to diagnose.

Celiac disease can be diagnosed by your primary care provider. Find a provider accepting new patients. If necessary, he or she can refer you to one of our board-certified gastroenterologists.

What Is Celiac Disease?

Although gluten is not dangerous, the immune systems of people with celiac disease see this protein as a threat. The resulting response damages the small intestine, particularly villi, small projections in the small intestine that absorb nutrients.

Celiac disease can lead to a number of serious health conditions, including coronary artery disease and intestinal cancers, and make it difficult for women to get pregnant. It can also increase the risk of other autoimmune conditions, such as Type 1 diabetes and multiple sclerosis.

The condition tends to run in families — you have a 1 in 10 risk of developing the condition if a first-degree relative also has it — and is more common in women and people of northern European ancestry.

It’s important to note that celiac disease is different from a wheat allergy, in which the immune system overreacts to any of the proteins found in wheat, or gluten intolerance, which can trigger symptoms similar to celiac disease but not cause intestinal damage.

Have you been diagnosed with celiac disease? Download our free guide, Living With Celiac Disease, for tips and advice for managing the condition.

Celiac Disease Symptoms

According to the Celiac Disease Foundation, more than 200 symptoms have been associated with celiac disease. Some can affect the digestive system, while others affect seemingly unrelated parts of the body, such as the joints.

Digestive symptoms of celiac disease include:

• Bloating and swelling in the abdomen
• Chronic diarrhea, constipation and other bowel changes
• Nausea, vomiting and stomach pain

Other associated symptoms/disorders include:

• Brittle bones
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Iron-deficiency anemia
• Missed periods
• Seizures

Celiac Disease Diagnosis and Treatment

To diagnose celiac disease, your physician will perform a thorough exam, including asking about family history of the disease. Her or she can also perform blood tests that check for common antibodies found in people with celiac disease. However, an intestinal biopsy — in which a small sample of tissue is taken from the small intestine — is the only test that can confirm a celiac disease diagnosis.

Celiac disease treatment focuses on eating a gluten-free diet. Symptoms often disappear once gluten is avoided. Eliminating gluten from your diet also gives the small intestine a chance to heal. Over the course of weeks to months, your villi will regrow and absorb nutrients normally again.

Certain symptoms of celiac disease (such as a skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis) may need medication to treat.

Our registered dietitians can help you transition to a gluten-free diet. Call 843-522-5635 to schedule an appointment.