Celiac disease is a permanent intolerance to ingested gluten
that results in immunologically mediated inflammatory damage to the small-intestinal mucosa.
Celiac disease is associated with both human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and
non-HLA genes and with other immune disorders, notably juvenile diabetes and thyroid disease.
The classic sprue syndrome of steatorrhea and malnutrition coupled with multiple
deficiency states may be less common than more subtle and often monosymptomatic presentations
of the disease.
Diverse problems such as dental anomalies, short stature, osteopenic bone disease,
lactose intolerance, infertility, and nonspecific abdominal pain among many others
may be the only manifestations of celiac disease.
The rate at which celiac disease is diagnosed depends on the level of suspicion for the disease.
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http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/69/3/354.
Best Regards,
David
