Celiac Disease: A Hidden Epidemic.CELIAC DISEASE celiac disease: see sprue. celiac disease or nontropical sprue Digestive disorder in which people cannot tolerate gluten, a protein constituent of wheat, barley, malt, and rye flours. : A Hidden Epidemic PETER H.R. GREEN AND RORY JONES Celiac disease affects up to 1 percent of the world's population but is diagnosed in far fewer people because its symptoms masquerade as those of many other diseases. Gastrointestinal problems, fatigue, headaches, joint pain, and itchy skin are among the symptoms of this hereditary autoimmune disorder Autoimmune disorder A disorder caused by a reaction of an individual's immune system against the organs or tissues of the body. Autoimmune processes can have different results: slow destruction of a particular type of cell or tissue, stimulation of an organ into of the small intestine small intestine Long, narrow, convoluted tube in which most digestion takes place. It extends 22–25 ft (6.7–7.6 m), from the stomach to the large intestine. . In the disease, the immune system immune system Cells, cell products, organs, and structures of the body involved in the detection and destruction of foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. Immunity is based on the system's ability to launch a defense against such invaders. reacts inappropriately to gluten, or wheat protein. Green, director of the celiac disease center at Columbia University, and Jones, a science writer, describe the biological mechanisms behind celiac disease, explore why the condition is underdiagnosed, and offer advice for a person wondering whether he or she has it. The authors include a primer on autoimmune diseases Autoimmune diseases A group of diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, in which immune cells turn on the body, attacking various tissues and organs. Mentioned in: Complement Deficiencies, Premature Menopause and tips for dealing with the stressful symptoms of celiac disease, analyzing the possible effects of a gluten free diet on each symptom. HarperCollins, 2006, 352 p., hardcover, $22.95. |
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