Celiac Disease

Celiac Disease (Celiac Sprue); Celiac sprue

Coeliac disease or celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder of the small bowel that occurs in genetically-predisposed individuals. It is caused by an abnormal reaction to gliadin, a gluten protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. A small minority of coeliac patients also react to oats.[1][2] Upon exposure to gliadin, the body's immune system cross-reacts with the enzyme tissue transglutaminase, causing flattening of the villi lining the small intestine, which interferes with the absorption ...