Celiac Disease: Symptoms, Testing, and the Gluten-Free Diet

Celiac disease is an autoimmune condition in which eating gluten, a protein in wheat, barley, and rye, triggers the immune system to damage the lining of the small intestine. This can prevent the body from absorbing nutrients. Celiac disease runs in families and can start at any age.

Symptoms

• Diarrhea, bloating, gas, or belly pain
• Weight loss
• Iron-deficiency anemia
• Tiredness
• Itchy, blistering skin rash (dermatitis herpetiformis)
• Bone thinning (osteoporosis)
• Abnormal liver tests

Some people have few or no stomach symptoms.

Testing

1. A blood test (tissue transglutaminase IgA, often with a total IgA level)
2. If positive, an upper endoscopy (EGD) with small-intestine biopsies to confirm

Keep eating gluten until testing is done. Going gluten-free first can make the tests look normal.

Family members of people with celiac disease should consider testing too.

Treatment

The treatment is a strict, lifelong gluten-free diet. Most people feel better within weeks, and the intestine heals over months to years. A dietitian can help you avoid hidden gluten. We also check iron, vitamin D, and other nutrients, and may recommend a bone density test.

When symptoms continue

If symptoms continue on a gluten-free diet, it is often from accidental gluten exposure, but we also look for other causes, such as lactose intolerance, IBS, or bacterial overgrowth.

Make an appointment

Our gastroenterologists in Temple City care for patients from Arcadia, San Gabriel, Pasadena, Monrovia, Monterey Park, and across the San Gabriel Valley. We accept most PPO plans (see accepted insurances), and our doctors speak English, Vietnamese, and Mandarin. Schedule an appointment or call 626-898-4560.

This article is for general education and is not a substitute for medical advice. Talk with your doctor about your own health.