Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is an enteropathy due to gluten intake in genetically predisposed persons (HLA DQ2/DQ8). Celiac disease occurs in adults and children at rates approaching 1% of population in Europe and USA. Clinical presentation of celiac disease is extremely varied. Anaemia, oral aphthous stomatis, amenorrhea or articular symptoms may reveal celiac disease. Diagnosis relies on evidence of duodenal villous atrophy and specific serum antibodies. Treatment relies on eviction of gluten (wheat, barley, rye). Gluten-free diet allows prevention of malignant complications and osteopenia. The main cause of resistance to gluten-free diet is its bad observance. On the contrary, serious complications of celiac disease, such as clonal refractory celiac sprue and intestinal T cell lymphoma need to be screen.