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

Alternative Names:

Sprue; Nontropical sprue; Gluten intolerance; Gluten-sensitive enteropathy
Treatment:

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You must follow a life-long gluten-free diet. This allows the intestinal villi to heal. Foods, beverages, and medications that contain wheat, barley, rye, and possibly oats should be eliminated completely. You must read food and medication labels carefully to look for hidden sources of these grains and their derivatives. Since wheat and barley grains are found abundantly in the American diet, keeping to this diet is challenging. With education and planning, you will achieve the goal of healing.

You should NOT begin the gluten-free diet before a diagnosis is made. Doing so will alter future testing for the disease.

Vitamin and mineral supplements may be prescribed to correct nutritional deficiencies. Occasionally, corticosteroids (such as prednisone) may also be prescribed for short-term use or if you have refractory sprue. Following a well-balanced, gluten-free diet is generally the only treatment required for staying well.

Upon diagnosis, seek consultation from a registered dietitian with a specialty in celiac disease and the gluten-free diet. A support group may also help you cope with the disease and diet.

Support Groups:

For additional information and support, see the organizations listed in celiac disease resources.

Expectations (prognosis):

Removing all damaging grains from the diet is the most important measureyou can take to become healthy. If you follow the diet strictly, youcan expect to lead a long, healthy life --ifpermanent damage did not occur before diagnosis.

Complications:

The gluten-free diet must be carefully and continuously followed. When untreated, the disease can cause life-threatening complications. A delayed diagnosis or non-compliance with the diet placesyou at risk for developing associated conditions such as infertility, miscarriage, osteoporosis, fractures, certain types of intestinal cancer, or other autoimmune disorders.

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if symptoms develop that are suggestive of celiac disease.