Coeliac disease in the adult

Abstract

Coeliac disease can by defined as a chronic disease characterized by a typical mucosal lesion of the small intestine and an impaired nutrient absorption which improves on withdrawal of gluten from the diet. The prevalence rate has increased over the last decades and just 1/3 of cases are diagnosed in childhood. There is a striking association with class II histocompatibility antigens, HLA-DR3 and HLA-DQ2. Cellular immune response mediated by intraepithelial and lamina propria lymphocytes is the primary event in the small intestine damage. Up to 50% of adult coeliac patients don't present intestinal symptoms being more frequent subclinic forms. The immunological markers of coeliac disease are antigliadin, antireticulin and antiendomysial antibodies, being the last one the most specific. Mortality of coeliac patient is increased mainly for malignancies, being the most frequent the intestinal T lymphoma.