Celiac disease

Coeliac disease, also known asnon tropical-tropical sprue⁶, is a T cell T-cell mediated autoimmune chronic gluten intolerance condition characterised by loss loss of villi villi in the proximal small bowel and gastrointestinal gastrointestinal malabsorption (sprue).

It should always be be considered as a possible underlying aetiology in cases ofIroniron deficiency anaemia of uncertain cause.

Epidemiology

Coeliac disease is relatively common in Caucasians, 1 in 200, but it is extremely rare in asiansAsians or black people. There are two peaks of presentation, small number number of patients present early early in childhood and the second more common group of patients presents at 3rd and 4th decade. 

Clinical presentation

Many patients have paucity of symptoms with no GI upset. However, abdominal pain is considered the most common symptoms. Other findings include:

• iron deficiency anaemia and guaiac-positive stools 
• diarrhea
• constipation
• malabsorption including fat soluble vitamins
• weight loss

Pathology

Coeliac disease is a chronic autoimmune disease induced in genetically susceptible individuals after ingestion of gluten. Small bowel mucosa is primarily affected (submucosa, muscularis and serosa remain normal), resulting in progressive degrees of villous inflammation and destruction (which starts in duodenum and extends into ilium) with resulting of induction crypt hyperplasia. Loss of villi, which absorbs fluid, and hypertophyhypertrophy of crypts, which produce fluid, result in fluid excess in the small bowel lumen ⁸.  

The villous atrophy that occurs within the bowel also results in malabsorption of iron, folic acid, calcium and fat soluble vitamin resulting in a variety of signs, some of which may be non-specific.

The gold standard diagnostic test is a duodenal biopsy taken at UGIEendoscopy.

• total villous loss, initially blunting progressing to flattened mucosa
• hyperplasia of the crypts 
• epithelial infiltration with T cell-cell lymphocytes

Additionally, serum antibodies antibodies may be raised:

• anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody (anti-tTG), IgA
• deamidated gliadin peptide (DGP) antibodies, IgA
• anti-endomysial antibodies (EMA), IgA class
• anti-reticulin antibodies (ARA), IgA class

Quantitative immunoglobulin A (IgA): measures the total level of IgA in the blood to determine if someone is deficient in the IgA class of antibodies. The IgG class of anti-tTG may be ordered for people who have a deficiency of IgA.

Associations

• idiopathic pulmonary haemosiderosis:  as as part of the Lane Hamilton syndrome ⁴
• dermatitis herpetiformis
• IgA deficiency
• cavitatory lymph node syndrome

Radiographic features

Fluoroscopy (barium follow through)

Features of small bowel barium studies are not sensitive enough for confident diagnosis, but some changes may be seen:

• small intestinal dilatation due to excess fluid 
• dilution of contrast
• multiple non-obstructing intussusception
• ileojejunal fold pattern reversal (including jejunalisation of the ileum)
• moulage sign
• mosaic pattern
• flocculation
• segmentation

CT enterocolysis

Features present on CT enterocolysis may include ^3,6:

• reversed jejunoileal fold pattern: thought to have the highest specificity is considered the most discriminating independent variable for the diagnosis of uncomplicated coeliac disease
• ileal fold thickening
• vascular engorgement
• prominent mesenteric lymph lymph nodes, may cavitate with fluid fat level
• submucosal fat deposition in long standing cases
• other adjunctive features
  • splenic atrophy

Complications

• increased risk of malignant conditions such such as small bowel lymphoma(mainly T cell type) and small bowel adenocarcinoma
• ulcerative jejuno ileitis ¹
• increase risk of development of carcinoma of oesophagus
• cavitatory lymph node syndrome^1-2
  • hyposplenism ¹