Gluten-Sensitive Enteropathy Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is the result of the development of inflammatory-allergic condition due to gluten intolerance. The disease occurs both in adults and in children in a number of countries all over the world. Its occurrence is fairly frequent, it is estimated that approximately 1% of the population suffers from it. Patients manifest not only gastrointestinal symptoms, but also symptoms which are the consequence of malabsorption syndrome, such as osteoporosis, hypochromic anemia, hypoproteinaemia, hypocalcemia, short stature in children, vitamin deficiency, secondary polysensibilization, and emotional disturbances. Moreover, it has been observed that the occurrence of autoimmunological diseases and neoplasms in patients who are not treated with gluten-free diet doubles (Swinson et al., 1983 Ventura et al., 1999). 

These proteins contain considerable amounts of glutamine—an amino acid which is a transglutaminase 2 substrate. In the process of celiac disease development, glutamine undergoes deamination, and next the product is bound with HLA DQ8 or HLA DQ2, due to affinity 25 times higher than in the form containing glutamine 

It has been proven that it is mainly TNFa that stimulates fibroblasts to release metalloproteases—compounds leading to the degradation of proteoglycans, collagen, and glycoproteins, and consequently damage the substance of basic connective tissue. As a result, the mucous barrier becomes less hermetic and a subsequent atrophy of intestinal villi and reduction of absorption surfaces occurs (Schuppan, 2000). 

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Chloe s medical notes show that as an infant she was admitted to the children s hospital with suspected celiac disease (gluten-sensitive enteropathy). On discharge, she was prescribed a special diet for four years. Her paediatrician then suggested the gradual introduction of foods previously excluded from her diet, such as bread and breakfast cereals. Since then she has gained weight normally and remained fairly well, except for occasional anaemia. Her blood test now shows microcytic red blood cells some of her biochemical results are shown below. 

Celiac disease is sometimes called nontropical sprue, cefiac sprue, or gluten-sensitive enteropathy. 

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