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Celiac disease
Make it clearer
Celiac disease is damage to the small intestine that keeps going over time, and it's produced by the body's own immune system, the system that defends it. That's what it means to call it an immune disease: what injures the intestine isn't an invader from outside, it's your own defenses. In susceptible people, exposure to gluten contributes to damage in the lining of the intestine, the layer that coats it on the inside like the liner of a pipe.
One point is worth insisting on: this isn't about feeling bad for a while after eating. There's an injury to the small intestine, and the immune response is what's causing it. Two tools are used to make the diagnosis: serology, the blood tests that look for antibodies, and an intestinal biopsy, which means taking a small piece of the intestine to examine it.
In brief
Celiac disease is a chronic immune disorder that damages the small intestine. "Immune" means that the body's own defense system is involved in the damage.
In susceptible people, exposure to gluten contributes to damage in the lining of the intestine. It is not simply discomfort after eating; there is injury to the small intestine that involves an immune response.
The diagnosis is established with serology, meaning blood tests for antibodies, and an intestinal biopsy.
Sources (2)
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney DiseasesDefinition & Facts for Celiac Disease
- American College of GastroenterologyACG Clinical Guidelines: Diagnosis and Management of Celiac DiseasePublished
This page explains the topic in general terms; it does not tell anyone what treatment to follow.
Updated