Practical Review on the Impact of Celiac Disease on the Patient

Celiac disease (CD) is a multisystem immune-mediated disorder resulting in enteropathy of the small intestine with the ingestion of gluten, in genetically susceptible individuals. This condition impact 1% of the population and can result in the development of other conditions such as chronic fatigue, anemia, osteoporosis, aphthous stomatitis, elevated liver enzymes, joint pain, infertility, peripheral neuropathy, and epilepsy. In this review, we outline the clinical presentation of CD, the physiological differences between CD and non-celiac gluten sensitivity, proper management and the need for thorough patient education to increase adherence to a gluten free diet and reduce GI symptoms.