Via practica 1/2015

Current view of celiac disease

Celiac disease is a lifelong autoimmune disorder caused by permanent intolerance to gluten, which affects the small intestine and immune system in genetically predisposed individuals. Prevalence of celiac disease is high, many of patients still remain undiagnosed. The reason for lack of data on the frequency of the disease is caused by a fact that besides typical gastroenterological symptoms, more than a half of patients present with oligosymptomatic to asymptomatic course of the disease or have polymorphic clinical symptoms with extra- intestinal manifestations. Celiac disease can by diagnosed at any age. The early diagnosis and appropriate treatment by gluten-free diet often leads to a significant improvement in the quality of life of the patient, withdrawal of clinical symptomatology and decrease in the incidence of serious complications. Considering this knowledge, the cooperation of general practitioners, as providers of the primary health care, and specialists-gastroenterologists is emphasized in optimal management of the patient suffering from celiac disease.

Keywords: celiac disease, gluten enterophaty, gluten-free diet.