Celiac Disease Causes with Complete Guideline

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OVERVIEW:

Celiac disease is a chronic digestive disease caused by an immune reaction to gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley and rye. Gliadin is one part of the gluten in wheat.

Rice does not contain gluten. Oats don't naturally contain it, but regular oats are often contaminated with gluten from other grains.

Celiac disease damages the lining of the small intestine. It can cause diarrhea, constipation, bloating, anemia and bone thinning (osteoporosis). There is currently no cure, and the only effective treatment is a strict, lifelong gluten-free diet.

WHAT IS CELIAC DISEASE?

Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition. When a person with celiac disease eats gluten, the immune system reacts abnormally and damages the lining of the small intestine.

Gluten is a substance that gives bread its chewy texture and dough its elastic texture. The immune reaction damages the villi, tiny finger-like projections on the wall of the small intestine.

8 Major Celiac Disease Symptoms and Complete Overview

When the villi are damaged, the small intestine can't absorb nutrients from food well. This leads to malabsorption. Without treatment, it can cause weight loss, low bone density, anemia and, rarely, certain cancers such as lymphoma. Untreated celiac disease has also been linked to problems with fertility and pregnancy.

Causes of Celiac Disease

Celiac disease seems to occur only in people who have certain genes and eat gluten. Researchers are still studying what other factors make the disease start.

The disease is common. The NIDDK estimates that about 1 in 100 people worldwide have celiac disease, and many cases are undiagnosed.

• Unknown Triggers:

Scientists don't fully know why some people with the risk genes develop celiac disease and others don't. Early infections, certain digestive tract infections and changes in gut bacteria are being studied.

• Gluten Exposure:

Eating gluten is what triggers the abnormal immune response. Gluten is found in wheat, barley and rye, and it can be hidden in foods like broths, soups, sauces and seasonings.

Celiac disease is not a food allergy. It is an autoimmune reaction, and even small amounts of gluten can cause intestinal damage.

• First Degree Relatives:

Celiac disease runs in families. If a first-degree relative (a parent, brother, sister or child) has celiac disease, your risk is higher than average. If a close relative has it, ask your doctor whether you should be tested.

• Stressful Events:

Some experts think a major physical event, like an illness or surgery, might trigger celiac disease in people who are already at risk. This idea is still being studied.

• Pregnancy:

Some people are first diagnosed during or after pregnancy, and some researchers think pregnancy or childbirth may act as a trigger in people with the risk genes. This has not been proven.

• Genetic Causes for Celiac Disease:

Genetics play a vital role. According to the NIDDK, celiac disease almost always occurs in people with one of two gene variant groups, HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ8.

About 30% of people carry one of these gene variants, but only about 3% of them develop celiac disease. So having the genes alone does not mean you will get the disease.

A doctor can order a genetic test using a blood sample or a cheek swab. If you don't have DQ2 or DQ8, you are very unlikely to have celiac disease. A positive gene test does not diagnose celiac disease; that requires blood antibody tests and usually an intestinal biopsy.

• Racial factors for celiac disease:

Celiac disease affects people in all parts of the world. It has been studied most in people of European ancestry, where the risk genes are common, but it also occurs in other populations.

• Humoral and T cell immune responses:

Humoral and cellular immune responses are celiac disease causes related to immunity. Intestinal damage results from T cell-mediated immune response to gliadin and as a result of immune reaction surface epithelial cells are destroyed and the villi which are finger like projections become blunted or flat. The brush border enzymes levels are also greatly decreased

• Associated autoimmune diseases:

People with another autoimmune disease, such as type 1 diabetes or autoimmune thyroid disease, are more likely to have celiac disease. Untreated celiac disease can also affect the liver.

• Genetic diseases:

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Down syndrome, Turner syndrome, Williams syndrome and other chromosomal disorders raise the risk. People with these conditions are more likely to develop celiac disease than the general population.

CONCLUSION:

Celiac disease is caused by an immune reaction to gluten in people with certain genes. Doctors may test for it in anyone with ongoing diarrhea, bloating, weight loss, anemia, or the itchy skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis.

There is no known way to prevent or cure celiac disease. Once it is diagnosed, a strict, lifelong gluten-free diet lets the intestine heal and controls symptoms. Antibiotics are not a treatment for celiac disease.

Don't start a gluten-free diet before you are tested, because it can affect test results. Talk with your doctor first.

Sources

• Symptoms & Causes of Celiac Disease, NIDDK
• Definition & Facts for Celiac Disease, NIDDK
• Diagnosis of Celiac Disease, NIDDK
• Celiac Disease, Cleveland Clinic