Types Of Celiac Disease And Their Characteristics
It is important to know that celiac disease does not always manifest itself in the same way. For this reason, experts have studied and classified the different types of celiac disease.
It is an autoimmune disorder which is about the intake of gluten. Gluten is a protein that is present in many foods such as those containing wheat and barley. In the United States alone, experts estimate that this disorder affects about 1% of the population or about 3 million people.
The problem is that it can be asymptomatic in a large number of cases, making it more complex to make a diagnosis and therefore taking longer. So in this article we will explain everything you should know about this disorder and what the primary types of celiac disease are.
What is celiac disease?
As we mentioned above, celiac disease is an autoimmune disease in which there is a reaction to gluten. This means that when a person with celiac disease ingests this protein, it produces a reaction in the immune system of the small intestine. In this way, gluten causes damage to the lining of the intestines.
Gluten is a protein that is present in various grains. It is, for example, in wheat, rye, barley and sometimes in oats. These are foods that are generally very common in Western diets as an ingredient in breads, pastas, cakes and more.
The damage to the lining of the intestines over time affects the absorption of nutrients during digestion. This explains why weight loss, anemia and changes in development occur in children in many cases.
Although experts have not yet decided exactly what causes the different types of celiac disease, we do know that genetics is a crucial factor. Likewise, it is often associated with other types of autoimmune diseases. According to a study in the Cuban Journal of Food and Nutrition , there may be a link between celiac disease and type-1 diabetes.
There are many gluten-free alternatives that help patients deal with a diet that is inherently strict.
Types of celiac disease
Within celiac disease, there are various clinical forms based on symptoms and results of certain complimentary tests that allow for the exploration of the digestive system. This leads to the definition of the different types of celiac disease, and according to the Spanish Federation of Celiac Associations , almost 75% of patients have not been diagnosed.
These data come from the fact that until recently, experts were not aware that there could be cases without symptoms. The types of celiac disease are thus as follows: Asymptomatic, with symptoms, potential, latent and resistant. Below we will explain their primary characteristics.
Subclinical or asymptomatic
Asymptomatic celiac disease is, as the name suggests, without any symptoms present. However, through complimentary tests (such as an endoscopy to observe the intestines), the presence of the disease becomes visible.
Classic or with symptoms
In this type of celiac disease, patients show both symptoms and positive test results. However, the characters are very varied. In some people, diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, vomiting and abdominal pain occur.
In other cases, we may find persistent constipation instead of constipation. Other typical signs are delayed development in the case of children, meteorism and distended abdomen. In an indirect way, we find anemia and even constant irritability.
Potential celiac disease
This type of celiac disease refers to cases where individuals do not show symptoms. However, they have a likelihood of developing the disorder. They know this thanks to genetic tests such as the determination of the HLA-DQ2 / DQ8 gene.
In these patients, when performing a biopsy of tissue in the small intestine, doctors find no evidence of celiac disease. According to an article in the Chilean Medical Journal , it is important to follow these individuals closely, even if they do not have to follow a strict gluten-free diet (to begin with).
Types of Celiac Disease: Latent celiac disease
What happens in the case of latent celiac disease is that the diagnosis of the disease has already taken place, but later the symptoms and the disorder disappear in the intestines.
For example, it may be a person who was diagnosed as a child, and after fully following a completely gluten-free diet, they do not suffer from the disease again despite the fact that they reintroduce this protein into the diet.
Resistant celiac disease
Resistant celiac disease refers to cases where the symptoms and signs of the disease continue to be present even if one follows a gluten-free diet. In order to confirm this, the patient must go more than six months without having any contact with the protein.
To confirm the resistant form of this disease, the patient must have gone more than 6 months without any contact with this protein.
There are several types of celiac disease
The most important thing to know about this topic is that there are different types of celiac disease. More than anything else, it is essential to remember that there may be lesions in the intestines of people who show no symptoms. It is therefore not always an easy task to make a diagnosis.
Timely confirmation of the presence of this disease is essential. This is because the damage to the lining of the intestines can become irreversible and have serious consequences. For example, it can lead to malnutrition and delayed growth in children.
Therefore, if you suspect gastrointestinal symptoms when ingesting gluten, it is always essential to talk to a doctor. Complimentary tests are available and can be performed relatively easily.
