Celiac disease can generally be expressed as a small bowel disease and occurs as a result of gluten exposure in susceptible individuals. Susceptibility is often associated with genetic factors. An important treatment approach in this chronic (long-term) disease is the prevention of gluten intake with food.
What is Celiac?
Celiac disease is a digestive system disorder characterized by an abnormal immune response to gluten. Gluten is included in the foods that products such as wheat, barley and rye are used. Apart from these foods, it is recommended to be careful because oats can be found in some medicines, vitamins and cosmetic products. While this sensitivity is moderate in some people, it may progress as an autoimmune severe sensitivity associated with the immune system in some people.
In celiac patients, while the food is in the intestinal lumen, various toxic substances occur as a result of the immune system's reaction against gluten, and these substances cause damage to the finger-like projections called villi on the intestinal cells. Vili damage makes it difficult for nutrients to be absorbed in the digestive tract. This situation may progress to the development of deficiencies of various nutrients, permanent damage to the intestinal region, or the emergence of other serious health problems over time. p>
What are the Symptoms of Celiac Disease?
Among the symptoms of gluten disease, diarrhea (diarrhea) and fatigue are the leading symptoms. In addition to these symptoms, a person may experience celiac symptoms such as abdominal tension, discomfort or pain related to the digestive system, or vomiting and constipation (constipation). The presence of growth retardation or unexplained weight loss in childhood are important findings of this disease.
Aphthous ulcers around the mouth, iron deficiency anemia, except for digestive system symptoms. Problems such as headache, ataxia, long-term headaches and menstrual irregularity can also be added to other gluten symptoms. Pregnant women with underlying celiac disease may have an increased risk of pregnancy-related complications such as premature birth, developmental delay in the womb, and stillbirth. As with the symptoms, it usually regresses with the removal of gluten from the person's diet. The symptoms, which are the answer to the question of how to understand the celiac disease that may occur as a result of consuming products containing gluten, can be summarized as follows:
- Diarrhea: The formation of watery and soft stools is the primary symptom in people with celiac disease. In general, this complaint regresses within a few days to 4 weeks with appropriate treatment and diet.
- Bloating: Bloating is another common symptom that occurs in celiac patients. As a result of intestinal inflammation caused by celiac disease, bloating and other digestive system complaints occur. Consumption of gluten-containing products may cause bloating in people who do not have this disease.
- Gas: Excessive gas formation may occur in people who do not start appropriate treatment and diet practices.
- Weakness: It is common for celiac patients to have low energy levels. Vitamin and mineral deficiencies due to damage to the small intestines may be effective in the formation of this state of weakness.
- Weight Loss: Sudden weight loss and problems such as maintaining the current weight can be considered among the early symptoms of celiac disease. It is thought that the triggering of this situation is the result of the absorption problem of nutrients.
- Iron Deficiency Anemia: In celiac disease, iron deficiency anemia may occur due to the deterioration of iron absorption from the intestines and various problems in the production of red blood cells. Weakness, fatigue, chest pain, headache and lightheadedness are among the symptoms of iron deficiency.
- Constipation (Constipation): In some patients, it can cause diarrhea. Lyac disease can cause constipation in some patients. Foods that progress in the intestines and whose absorption is impaired may sometimes pull the fluid in the lumen and become more rigid and trigger the complaint of constipation.
- Itchy Skin Rash: Dermatitis herpetiformis, known as celiac skin rash, is characterized by itchy and fluid-filled skin rashes, and these lesions usually occur on the hips, elbows and knees of the person.
- Weight loss
- Vomiting
- Abdominal bloating and pain
- Long duration Diarrhea or constipation that continues throughout life
- Light-colored or greasy and foul-smelling stools
What Causes Celiac Disease?
The underlying cause of celiac disease has not been definitively revealed yet. Various genetic and environmental factors may trigger the emergence of the disease. How the baby is fed, the digestive system infections that the person has or even the beneficial bacteria living in the intestine may play a role in the formation of this problem. The basic pathology underlying celiac disease is the damage of intestinal cells called enterocytes. A chronic inflammatory state also occurs in this region and the villi protrusions of the cells are also damaged.
Genetic factor in celiac disease is dominant in HLA locus such as DQ2 and DQ8. i is the presence of genes. As a result of these genes and the proteins they take part in the production of gluten, a response is created by the immune system and antibody production occurs against an enzyme called tissue transglutaminase. A glycoprotein called gliadin in gluten has a direct toxic effect on enterocytes. The risk of developing celiac disease is thought to be higher with certain other autoimmune diseases. Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Type 1 diabetes, Sjogren's disease, and autoimmune liver disease are examples of autoimmune disorders associated with the development of celiac.
How is Celiac Disease Diagnosed?
It forms the basis of the diagnostic approach in celiac disease It creates tests known as celiac blood tests and called serological tests. Based on the measurement of two antibodies, this celiac disease test investigates the presence of anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTGA) and anti-endomysium antibodies (EMA) in the person's body. Celiac tests may result in more reliable results, especially when the person does not switch to a gluten-free diet.
After the celiac diagnostic test, duodenal biopsy may be considered. The biopsy procedure is the diagnostic gold standard method. As a result of biopsy, losses in intestinal cell villi can be detected.
What is the Treatment of Celiac Disease?
There are several ongoing studies to suppress the toxic effect of gluten in patients with a non-dietary treatment method of celiac disease. These studies are currently not at the level to be recommended or applied by qualifying them as celiac medicine. The main method for the treatment of celiac disease, also known as gluten disease, is the termination of gluten consumption. A strict gluten avoidance diet is required for all people diagnosed with celiac disease.
There are many natural gluten-free foods available. Animal proteins, vegetable oils or butter, vegetables and fruits, spices, seeds and dried Nuts are examples of gluten-free natural foods. Apart from these foods, there are various products that are specially produced and do not contain gluten. It is recommended to get support from experts in this field in the creation of the most appropriate diet.
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