Coeliac Disease - Symptom, Treatment and cause of Coeliac Disease

DESCRIPTION: A disease of the small intestine that usually starts in childhood, and persists into early adult life, often settling in middle age.

CAUSE: Congenital condition caused by a genetic error that prevents the small intestine from absorbing fats and, to a lesser extent,carbohydrates and protein, because the intestine becomes sensitised to gluten. Gluten is found in wheat, oats, barley and rye cereals, and maybe used as a bulking agent in prepared foods such as sausages.

SYMPTOMS: Patients are unable to tolerate any form of gluten in their intestine. If it is eaten they develop large, foul-smelling, frothy,fatty motions. This causes weight loss, anaemia and generalised weakness due to lack of nutrition and a failure to absorb vitamins A, D, E and K(the fat soluble vitamins).

INVESTIGATIONS: Initially diagnosed by a series of blood and faeces tests, but the final diagnosis can only be confirmed by taking a biopsy (sample) of the lining of the small intestine.

TREATMENT: Responds to a diet free of gluten, high in calories and protein, and low in fat.

COMPLICATIONS: Rashes and weak bones, as well as a failure to grow and foul diarrhoea may occur if untreated.

PROGNOSIS: In most patients it is completely controlled by diet. Once they reach adult life, many patients find they can slowly introduce gluten containing products to their diet without ill effect.