Celiac disease is an intolerance of gluten or adult child, and more specifically to its protein fractions or components, called gliadin (when they eat foods containing this substance produces damage to the bowel). Gluten is part of the wheat proteins. These patients also have intolerance to a lesser extent, other proteins in other grains such as rye, barley and oats.
What makes this intolerance?
- This is a permanent intolerance, ie, is maintained throughout life.
- Appears in people with genetic predisposition. It is known that celiac disease is most common among members of the same family. In addition, patients often belong to the same “group” genetic, especially a class of genes that are part of a genetic system known as major histocompatibility complex class II HLA.
- This intolerance produces a characteristic lesion of the intestinal mucosa or lining of the gut: there is atrophy of the intestinal villi, or destruction to a greater or lesser degree in the areas of the intestine where absorption takes place from food. The defining characteristic of this atrophy is reversible, meaning that the bowel is normal, when you start the diet without gluten.
What is the cause of intolerance to gluten?
The cause for which this intolerance occurs is unknown. While trying to explain in various ways, the most widely accepted today is that there is an alteration in the immune response or “defense” of the celiac patient.
The defense system of patients recognized as “foreign” or not belonging to the body, gluten, and produce antibodies or “defenses” against it. These antibodies produce bowel injury with destruction or atrophy of the mucosa (lining of the intestine), resulting in impaired digestion, food absorption, resulting in loss of data, explaining the digestive symptoms in these patients.
These antibodies can act against other organs or systems to explain other symptoms that may occur in celiac disease.
What are the symptoms of celiac disease?
Celiac disease affects not only children but also adults. Its symptoms can be very varied and different between different patients. Since the presentation is highly variable from one patient to another to make it easier the pooled in two ways: Celiac disease with symptoms, and asymptomatic celiac disease and latent celiac disease.
