Case Report: Revisiting Celiac Disease

Abstract

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder that causes varying degrees of villous atrophy and chronic malabsorption in genetically predisposed persons. Once considered a rare disease affecting children, younger adults, and persons of European ancestry, CD is increasingly recognized in all demographic groups with a prevalence rate in the United States of almost 1%. We offer an overview of the evaluation and management of CD vis-à-vis the case of a 41-year-old man who was hospitalized after presenting with the classic symptoms of chronic abdominal complaints, diarrhea, iron-deficiency anemia, and weight loss. Celiac disease remains an underdiagnosed condition in the United States, which is unfortunate given the potential treatment with a gluten-free diet.

Keywords:

• celiac disease
• gluten
• malabsorption
• enteropathy
• sprue