1. Presentation by Hope VanCleve
Celiac Disease
Presentation by Hope VanCleve

2. WHAT IS CELIAC DISEASE?
Celiac Disease is an genetic autoimmune disease.
What does genetic mean?
Genetic means that it caused by a change ones DNA.
What does autoimmune mean?
Autoimmune means that that person’s own immune system is fighting their body. Normally, the immune system fights things that make us sick, for example, bacteria. But, sometimes it can get confused and start to fight food or even our own organs.
The part of the immune system that fights foreign things is called an antibody. In autoimmune disease the body makes antibodies against itself.

3. WHAT IS CELIAC DISEASE?
When a person has Celiac Disease a part of their immune system, immunoglobulin A or IgA, gets confused and causes the body to begin to fight gluten. So, the body makes antibodies against gluten.
Gluten is a protein that is found in wheat and other grain products.
When these antibodies fight gluten it causes damage to the small intestine.
When the small intestine is damaged it makes it hard to absorb nutrients and vitamins that we need.
Long term damage can even cause cancer.
Celiac Disease is often associated with other autoimmune diseases such as Diabetes Mellitus type 1 or thyroid issues.

4. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CELIAC DISEASE?
Chronic diarrhea
Decreased appetite
Bloating
Abdominal pain
Failure to thrive (failure to gain weight)
Vomiting
Flatulence (gas)
Skin rash
Joint pain

5. HOW DO YOU TEST FOR CELIAC DISEASE?
Genetic Testing
Genetic testing can be done for Celiac Disease. However, just because you have the gene does not mean you have the disease. Having the gene will make it more likely you could develop the disease but it does not mean you have it. Have 2 alleles or a copy of the gene from mom and dad makes it much more likely you will develop it.
Blood work
There are simple blood tests to look for the different types of antibodies that the body makes against gluten.
Scope
The best test to confirm Celiac Disease is a scope with a biopsy. The scope is a camera attached to a small wire that the doctor will pass through the mouth (Esophagogastroduodenoscopy or EGD for short).The camera allows the doctor to look at the inside of the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. While the doctor is doing the scope a biopsy will be taken. A biopsy is when they take a small piece of tissue and look at it under a microscope.

6. WHAT CAN THE DOCTOR SEE WITH A SCOPE?
When the doctor is looking at the biopsy of the intestine they are looking for “blunting of the villi”.
Villi are part of the intestinal tract that helps with nutrient absorption.
Normally, they are finger like projections. In Celiac Disease they become flat or blunted.
Normal Villi (look like fingers) Abnormal (flat, no fingers)

7. HOW IS CELIAC DISEASE DIFFERENT THAN GLUTEN INTOLERANCE?
Celiac Disease and gluten intolerance are not the same.
Celiac Disease is an autoimmune disease involved IgA.
Gluten intolerance is an allergy that involves a different part of the immune system called immunoglobulin E or IgE.
Unlike Celiac Disease, gluten intolerance will not cause destruction of the villi or increase the risk of cancer.
Gluten intolerance is not associated with other autoimmune diseases.

8. WHAT FOODS CONTAIN GLUTEN?
Gluten is a general name for the proteins found in wheat.
Other names for gluten are wheatberry, durum, emmer, semolina, spelt, farina, farro, graham, KAMUT® khorasan wheat and einkorn, rye, barley and triticale.
Gluten is found mostly in bread, baked goods, pasta, cereal, and salad dressings.
When grocery shopping read the ingredients label closely.

9. WHAT FOODS DO NOT CONTAIN GLUTEN?
Fruits
Vegetables
Meat
Seafood
Dairy
Beans
Nuts
Rice
Corn
Soy
Potato
Quinoa
Nut flour

10. HOW DO YOU TREAT CELIAC DISEASE?
Currently, the only way to treat Celiac Disease is to remove gluten from the diet..
If the disease is causing the body to not absorb vitamins, vitamin supplements may also be added.
There is research being done to develop a type of genetic treatment for the disease.

11. WILL CELIAC DISEASE EVER GO AWAY?
Currently there is no cure for Celiac Disease. Once diagnosed a gluten free diet must always be followed for life.

12. WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION?