Coeliac Disease

Question 1

What is coeliac disease?

Answer 1

Long-term autoimmune condition of the small intestine

T-cell response to gluten -> villous atrophy & malabsorption

Question 2

What are the complications related to
Iron deficiency
Calcium & vitamin D malabsorption

Answer 2

Anaemia

Osteoporosis

Question 3

What are complications in childhood?

Answer 3

Faltering growth & delayed puberty

Question 4

What is the cause in 95% of cases?

Answer 4

HLA-DQ2 allele

Question 5

How does it present?

Answer 5

Persistent, unexplained abdo symptoms (indigestion, diarrhoea, abdo bloating, constipation)
Fatigue
Weight loss
Mouth ulcers

Question 6

How is it diagnosed?

Answer 6

Serological testing: IgA

Question 7

What must someone ensure before the test?

Answer 7

Ensure they have eaten gluten-containing foods at least twise a day for the past 6 weeks

Question 8

What would you see on duodenal biopsy?

Answer 8

Villous atrophy, intraepithelial WBC, crypt hyperplasia

Question 9

How is it managed?

Answer 9

Gluten free diet

Question 10

What is dermatitis herpetiformis?

Answer 10

Intensely itchy skin, small blisters & bumps

Resolves if gluten cut from the diet