Celiac disease - sprue

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Digestive system

Celiac sprue - foods to avoid

Dermatitis, herpetiformis on the knee

Dermatitis, herpetiformis on the arm and legs

Digestive system organs

Celiac disease - sprue

Definition:

Celiac disease is an inherited, autoimmune disease. The lining of the small intestine is damagedfromeating gluten and other proteins found in wheat, barley, rye, and possibly oats.

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The intestines contain projections (called villi) that absorb nutrients. In undiagnosed or untreated celiac disease, these villi become flattened, and the ability to absorb nutrients properly is altered. As a result, several other organ systems may also be affected. The disease can develop at any point in life, from infancy to late adulthood.

Alternative Names:
Sprue; Nontropical sprue; Gluten intolerance; Gluten-sensitive enteropathy
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

The exact cause of celiac disease is unknown. Once thought rare, celiac disease has recently beenestimated to affect 1 of every 133 Americans. However, only a small fraction of people living withceliac diseasein the United States have been diagnosed at this time.

Those with a family member with celiac disease are at greater risk for developing the disease. The disorder is most common in Caucasians and those of European ancestry. Women are affected more commonly than men.

There are numerous diseases and conditions associated with celiac disease, including:

Anemia
Lactose intolerance
Dermatitis herpetiformis (a burning, itching, blistering rash), and other skin disorders
Type 1 diabetes
Thyroid disease
Down syndrome
Unexplained infertility
Miscarriage
Osteoporosis or osteopenia
Certain types of intestinal cancer
Neurological conditions
Autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus