by Shannon Davidson

Created on: November 21, 2008

When Gluten Won't Do: The Spectrum of Celiac Disease

Do you have any one of these symptoms: diarrhea, headaches, rashes, anxiety, constipation, fatigue, stomach discomfort, dental problems, depression or bladder infections? Well, you could have celiac disease or gluten intolerance.

All hypochondria aside, it is estimated that 1 in 133 Americans have celiac disease, the inability to digest gluten. Gluten is found in wheat, barley, rye and other grains. What do these grains do to a "celiac"? They induce the body to destroy part of the small intestine, causing malabsorption of important nutrients. Many people suffer for years, misdiagnosed or unaware of the cause of their symptoms.

Symptoms
The most common symptoms are indeed related to the gastro-intestinal system: periodic diarrhea, bloating and pain, usually not debilitating. But these symptoms are so vague and celiac disease was once considered so uncommon that patients were rarely diagnosed. Additionally, many people suffer from such a broad spectrum of seemingly unrelated symptoms that celiac disease can be difficult to pinpoint. Today, with greater awareness in the medical community, more and more patients being properly diagnosed.

Diagnosis
Celiac disease involves a two-part diagnosis. First, a blood test called a celiac panel will be done. This will test for the presence of certain antibodies in the blood, a strong predictor of celiac disease. If this test is positive, then an endoscopy of the small intestine will be performed, to confirm the characteristic damage to intestinal villi that indicates celiac disease. Celiac disease is considered an autoimmune disorder because of the way the body damages the intestines in reaction to gluten.

Some people will have typical celiac symptoms but will not test positive for the disease. This could be indicative of gluten intolerance or gluten sensitivity. While there is no formal medical diagnosis for this condition, many people find relief of their symptoms when they exclude gluten from their diet.

Causes
Celiac disease is inherited, and thus it runs in families. If you have a relative with celiac disease, the odds are 1 in 10 that you yourself have the disease, even if you are symptom-free. However, not everyone who carries the gene for celiac disease will develop it, as it involves a complex relationship between genetics and the environment.

Treatment
The only treatment for celiac disease is to avoid all foods containing gluten. When gluten is eliminated, celiacs have a

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