Norwegian Researchers Summarize Recent Advances in Celiac (Coeliac) Disease

 “Coeliac disease stands out as a major, nearly global health problem”

In a recently published article (2014), researchers from Oslo, Norway summarized advances in Celiac (Coeliac) Disease, gathered from CD research published between July 2011 and August 2013.

The article discusses advances in:

– Genetics

– Pathogenesis and Immunology

– Guidelines (set forth by European Society for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, ESPGHAN) 

– Epidemiology

– Diagnosis

– Gluten Free Diet (including new methods for detecting non-compliance)

– Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity

– Nondietary Treatments 

– Complications  (Type 1 Diabetics should read this)

Key Points:

• “There is increasing recognition of coeliac disease world-wide, with emerging data on prevalence in countries like India and China.
• Coeliac disease is a polygenic disorder with involvement of a large number of non-HLA loci with minor effects as well as HLA as a dominating locus with large effect.
• CD4+ T cells recognizing gluten epitopes in the context of disease-associated HLA-DQ molecules are key players in the pathogenesis, and T cells of different patients recognizing the same epitopes often use similar T-cell receptors.
• New guidelines state that coeliac disease can be diagnosed in children without endoscopy and biopsy if there are clinical signs of coeliac disease, strongly positive serology in repeated testing and presence of HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ8.
• The risk for mortality and morbidity in coeliac disease is less than previously thought.”

Conclusion:  “Our understanding of coeliac disease is rapidly evolving, both in the areas of basic and clinical research. Coeliac disease stands out as a major, nearly global health problem. Case finding, distinguishing coeliac disease from other reactions to bread and gluten, better care and balanced use of resources are the challenges we face today.”

Read complete article featured on Medscape.com HERE.   (Note, you may need to register with Medscape to access article)