What is celiac disease?

Celiac disease is a common autoimmune disorder that causes a reaction to gluten within the small intestine. It is often underdiagnosed, but it is estimated to impact around 2 million people in the United States.

Celiac disease is frequently conflated with gluten intolerance because the symptoms can be similar, but celiac disease causes long-lasting damage to the small intestine, which gluten sensitivities do not. Below, we will be examining the details of celiac disease, including its causes, symptoms, and treatments. Read on to learn more.

What causes celiac disease?

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that’s triggered when a person is exposed to gluten. When the body comes into contact with gluten, an autoimmune response begins in the small intestine, damaging the villi and preventing them from properly absorbing nutrients. Though anyone can develop celiac disease, it is most often hereditary. Individuals who have a first-degree relative with celiac disease have a 1 in 10 chance of developing it themselves.

Celiac disease symptoms

The symptoms of celiac disease can vary widely from person to person, which is one of the reasons why it can be a difficult condition to diagnose. Individuals most often experience gastrointestinal symptoms, but more than half of adults with celiac disease can also exhibit seemingly unrelated symptoms including joint pain, mouth ulcers, and nervous system injuries.

How is celiac disease diagnosed?

Doctors typically begin with a blood test when they suspect a patient may have celiac disease, as this can indicate whether or not certain antibodies are present. If the antibodies are shown in the bloodwork, an intestinal biopsy is performed to confirm the diagnosis.

Celiac disease treatments

Currently, the only treatment for celiac disease is strict adherence to a gluten-free diet. This can be difficult for many reasons; not only is gluten in many types of food, but it can also be found in medicine, skin care products, lip balm, and more. Some individuals also experience refractory or nonresponsive celiac disease, where the symptoms fail to abate despite having no gluten exposure.

Celiac disease clinical trials

Discovering better treatment options for patients with celiac disease is only possible through clinical trials. Research is continually underway to determine better therapies and interventions for those diagnosed — but for these studies to be successful, patients are needed to take part. To learn more about the current celiac disease clinical trials, click the button below.