Celiac.com 02/27/2007 - Celiac disease is an inherited autoimmune enteropathy caused by an adverse reaction to gluten in people who are genetically susceptible. Symptomatic celiac disease usually occurs in children and adolescents, who generally present gastrointestinal and other symptoms including: Abdominal cramps; gas and bloating; diarrhea; fatigue or general weakness; foul-smelling or grayish stools that are often fatty or oily; Osteoporosis; stunted growth in children; weight loss.

Celiac disease can also occur in asymptomatic individuals who have associated conditions. Recent studies show the prevalence of celiac in children under 15 years in the general population is 3 to 13 per 1,000 children, or approximately 1:300 to 1:80 children. A figure of 1 in 133 people is commonly used as an average for rates of celiac disease in the general population.

Diagnosis of Celiac Disease



Likely Signs of Celiac Disease





Celiac practice guidelines call for testing asymptomatic children who belong to at-risk groups at around three years of age, as long as they have eaten gluten regularly for at least one year before testing.

Therefore, guidelines call for testing asymptomatic individuals with negative serological tests, and who belong to at-risk groups at regular intervals. Treatment guidelines do not presently call for routinely testing autistic children for celiac disease, as there is currently no peer reviewed scientific evidence that celiac disease is more common in autistic children than in the general population (although more research needs to be done in this area because many parents report a vast improvement in their childrens symptoms by eliminating gluten and casein from their diets).

Testing for Celiac Disease

A blood test, such as anti-tissue transglutaminase and anti-endomysial antibodies, can detect abnormally high antibody levels, and is often used to screen people who are most likely to have the disease, and for those who may need further testing.

Based on the current evidence and practical considerations, including accuracy, reliability, and cost, measurement of IgA antibody to human recombinant tissue transglutaminase (TTG) is recommended for initial testing for celiac disease. Although it is nearly as accurate as TTG, measurement of IgA antibody to endomysium (EMA) is observer dependent and therefore more subject to interpretation error and added cost. Because of the inferior accuracy of the antigliadin antibody tests (AGA), the use of AGA IgA and AGA IgG tests is no longer recommended for detecting celiac disease.

More than 90% of patients with celiac disease have genetic markers HLA DQalpha *0501, and HLA DQbeta *0201. Negative tests for these markers in conjunction with negative serum antibody tests suggest an absence of celiac disease. However, positive tests for the genetic markers do not necessarily mean that the patient has celiac disease. In conclusion, genetic markers can generally be used as a test to exclude celiac disease as a diagnosis, although there have been reported cases of the disease absent these markers--it is a scenario that is rare.

Celiac Disease Biopsy

To confirm a diagnosis of celiac disease, your doctor may need to do a biopsy, that is, microscopically examine a small portion of intestinal tissue, looking for celiac associated damage to the small intestine. To do this, your doctor inserts a thin, flexible tube (endoscope) through your mouth, esophagus and stomach into your small intestine and takes a sample of intestinal tissue to look for damage to the villi (tiny, hair-like projections in the walls the small intestine that absorb vitamins, minerals and other nutrients).




Another good practice is coaching celiac patients to avoid processed foods that may contain hidden gluten. Wheat flour is commonly used in many processed foods that one might never suspect. A few examples include candy bars, canned soup, canned meat, energy bars, ketchup, ice cream, instant coffee, lunch meat, mustard, pastas, processed meat and sausages.

Also, gluten is also commonly found in many vitamins and cosmetics, such as lipstick, and in the production of many capsules and tablets, where wheat starch is a commonly used binding agent. Obviously, patients must avoid beer (most is made using barely, although there are gluten-free beers on the market), though wine, brandy, whiskey and other distilled and non-wheat or non-barley alcohols are okay.

Celiac patients are encouraged to eat a diet rich in fish, fresh meats, rice, corn, soybean, potato, poultry, fruits and vegetables. Initially celiac patients should also avoid milk and other dairy products, as it is common for patients with celiac disease to be lactose intolerant. Dairy products can often be slowly reintroduced into the diet over time with successful treatment.


For lists of gluten-free foods and products, and for specific advice on adopting, shaping and maintaining the gluten-free diet that is right for them, patients may wish to consult a registered dietitian who is experienced in teaching the gluten-free diet, or purchase a commercial gluten-free product listing.

Most patients who remove gluten from their diets find that their symptoms improve as inflammation of the small intestine begins to subside, usually within several weeks to several months. Many patients who adopt a gluten-free diet report an improvement within 48 hours. Results of a gluten-free diet can be especially dramatic in children with celiac disease. Not only does their diarrhea and abdominal distress usually subside but, frequently, their behavior and growth rate are often markedly improved.

A reappearance of intestinal villi nearly always follows an improvement in symptoms. In younger people, the villi may complete healing and re-growth in several months, while in older people, the process may take as long as two to three years.






Even done properly, with no accidental consumption of gluten, the elimination of gluten antibodies from the blood takes months. To estimate the treatments effectiveness, current guidelines call for a single serological testing after 3-6 months on a gluten-free diet. In addition many doctors recommend an annual serological screening and biopsy to make certain that the disease is properly controlled.

For patients who are free of antibodies, and actively following a gluten-free diet, it is wise to consult a doctor if there is any recurrence of celiac-associated symptoms. First degree relatives of celiac patients should have a repeat blood test every 2-3 years.


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