Also spelled Coeliac. Autoimmune disorder of small intestine due to gluten proteins. See Caeliacia and Coeliacia.Encyclopedia Entry for Celiac Disease :Celiac disease - nutritional considerations. To follow a gluten-free diet means, you need to avoid all foods, drinks, and medicines made with gluten. This means not eating anything made with barley, rye, and wheat. All items made with all-purpose, white, or wheat flour are prohibited. FOODS YOU CAN EAT Beans Cereals made without wheat or barley malt Corn Fruits and vegetables Meat, poultry, and fish (not breaded or made with regular gravies) Milk-based items Gluten-free oats Potatoes Rice Gluten-free products such as crackers, pasta, and breads Obvious sources of gluten include: Breaded foods Breads, bagels, croissants, and buns Cakes, donuts, and pies Cereals (most) Crackers and many snacks bought at the store, such as potato chips and tortilla chips Gravy Pancakes and waffles Pasta and pizza (other than gluten-free pasta and pizza crust) Soups (most) Stuffing Less obvious foods that must be eliminated include: Beer Candies (some) Cold cuts, hot dogs, salami or sausage Communion breads Croutons Some marinades, sauces, soy, and teriyaki sauces Salad dressings (some) Self-basting turkey There is a risk for cross-contamination. Items that are naturally gluten-free may become contaminated if they are made on the same production line, or moved together in the same place, as foods containing gluten. Eating at restaurants, work, school, and social gatherings can be challenging. Call ahead and plan. Due to the widespread use of wheat and barley in foods, it is important to read labels before buying food or eating. Despite its challenges, maintaining a healthy, balanced diet is possible with education and planning.Talk to a registered dietitian who specializes in celiac disease and the gluten-free diet to help you plan your diet. You may also want to join a local support group. These groups can help people with celiac disease share practical advice on ingredients, baking, and ways to cope with this life-altering, lifelong disease. Your health care provider might you take a multivitamin and mineral or an individual nutrient supplement to correct or prevent a deficiency.Gluten-free diet; Gluten sensitive enteropathy - diet; Celiac sprue - diet.Celiac sprue - foods to avoid Celiac sprue - foods to avoid.Kelly CP. Celiac disease.Encyclopedia Entry for Celiac Disease :Celiac disease - resources. Resources - celiac disease.Support group counselors Support group counselors.Encyclopedia Entry for Celiac Disease :Celiac disease - sprue. The exact cause of celiac disease is not known. The lining of the intestines have small areas called villi which project outward into the opening of the intestine. These structures help absorb nutrients. When people with celiac disease eat foods with gluten, their immune system reacts by damaging the villi. Because of the damage, the villi are unable to properly absorb iron, vitamins, and other nutrients. This may cause a number of symptoms and other health problems. The disease can develop at any point in life, from infancy to late adulthood. People who have a family member with celiac disease are at greater risk of developing the disease. The disorder is most common in Europeans. Women are affected more often than men. People with celiac disease are more likely to have: Autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus , and Sjogren syndrome Addison disease Down syndrome Intestinal cancer Intestinal lymphoma Lactose intolerance Thyroid disease Type 1 diabetes.The symptoms of celiac disease can be different from person to person. This can make diagnosis difficult. For example, one person may have constipation, a second may have diarrhea, and a third may have no problem with stools. Gastrointestinal symptoms include: Abdominal pain , bloating, gas, or indigestion Constipation Decreased appetite (may also be increased or unchanged) Diarrhea , either constant or off and on Lactose intolerance (common when the person is diagnosed, often goes away after treatment) Nausea and vomiting Stools that are foul smelling, oily, or stick to the toilet when flushed Unexplained weight loss (although people can be overweight or normal weight) Other problems that can develop over time because the intestines do not absorb key nutrients include: Easy bruising Depression or anxiety Fatigue Growth delay in children Hair loss Itchy skin with a rash ( dermatitis herpetiformis ) Missed menstrual periods Mouth ulcers Muscle cramps and joint pain Nosebleeds Seizures Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet Unexplained short height Children with celiac disease may have: Defects in the tooth enamel and changes in tooth color Delayed puberty Muscle wasting Diarrhea, constipation, fatty or foul-smelling stools, nausea, or vomiting Irritable and fussy behavior Poor weight gain Slowed growth and shorter than normal height for their age.The following tests may be performed: Bone density Cholesterol (may be low) Complete blood count ( CBC - test for anemia) Comprehensive metabolic panel Folate level (serum) Iron level (serum) Ferritin level Prothrombin time Vitamin B12 level (serum) Vitamin D level Blood tests can detect antibodies, called antitissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTGA) or anti-endomysial antibodies (EMA) which may help detect the condition. The health care provider will order these antibody tests if celiac disease is suspected. If the tests are positive, upper endoscopy is often performed to sample a piece of tissue (biopsy) from the first part of the small intestine (duodenum). The biopsy may show a flattening or loss of the villi in the parts of the intestine affected in the duodenum. Genetic testing of the blood can also be done to help detect who may be at risk for celiac disease. Those who test negative for the common genetic variant are unlikely to have celiac disease. A follow-up biopsy or blood test may be ordered several months after the diagnosis and treatment. These tests assess how well treatment is working. Normal results mean that you have responded to treatment. This confirms the diagnosis. However, this does not mean that the disease has been cured.Celiac disease cannot be cured. Your symptoms will go away and the villi in the intestines will heal if you follow a lifelong gluten-free diet. Do not eat foods, drink beverages, or take medicines that contain wheat, barley, rye, and possibly oats. You must read food and drug labels carefully to look ingredients that may include these grains. It may be hard to stick to a gluten-free diet because wheat and barley grains are common in the American diet. Over time, most people are able to adapt and get better. You should NOT begin the gluten-free diet before you are diagnosed. Starting the diet will affect testing for the disease. In most cases, following a well-balanced, gluten-free diet is the only treatment you need to stay well. Your health care provider may need to prescribe vitamin and mineral supplements. Sometimes, short-term use of corticosteroids (such as prednisone) may be needed if sprue does not respond to treatment. When you are diagnosed, get help from a registered dietitian who specializes in celiac disease and the gluten-free diet. A support group may also help you cope with the disease and diet.Following a gluten-free diet heals the damage to the intestines and prevents further damage. This healing most often occurs within 3 to 6 months in children. Recovery may take 2 to 3 years in adults. Rarely, long-term damage will be done to the lining of the intestines before the diagnosis is made. Some problems caused by celiac disease may not improve, such as a short height and damage to the teeth.You must carefully continue to follow the gluten-free diet. When untreated, the disease can cause fatal complications. Delaying diagnosis or not following the diet puts you at risk for related conditions such as: Autoimmune disorders Bone disease ( osteoporosis , kyphoscoliosis , fractures) Certain types of intestinal cancer Low blood count ( anemia ) Infertility or repeated miscarriage Liver disease.Call your provider if you have symptoms of celiac disease.Because the exact cause is not known, there is no way to prevent the development of celiac disease. However, you should try to be aware of the risk factors such as family history. This may increase your chances of early diagnosis and treatment.Sprue; Nontropical sprue; Gluten intolerance; Gluten-sensitive enteropathy.Digestive system Digestive system Celiac sprue - foods to avoid Celiac sprue - foods to avoid Dermatitis, herpetiformis on the knee Dermatitis, herpetiformis on the knee Dermatitis, herpetiformis on the arm and legs Dermatitis, herpetiformis on the arm and legs Digestive system organs Digestive system organs.Ferri FF. Celiac disease.