Coeliac disease
A chronic autoimmune disease in which eating gluten triggers an immune reaction that gradually destroys the lining of the small intestine.
Coeliac disease affects about 1% of the world’s population, often undiagnosed. It is NOT an allergy or a simple intolerance: it is an autoimmune disease. When a person with coeliac disease eats gluten, their immune system attacks the intestinal villi (the folds that absorb nutrients), flattening them.
An original angle (the tricky diagnosis): contrary to the « digestive problems » image, many adults with coeliac disease have no classic digestive symptoms. They show misleading signs: unexplained fatigue, resistant iron-deficiency anaemia, recurrent mouth ulcers, joint pain, early osteoporosis, neurological problems, infertility. Hence a frequent diagnostic delay of several years.
Diagnosis relies on:
- Blood tests: anti-transglutaminase (tTG) and anti-endomysial (EMA) antibodies
- Confirmation by duodenal biopsy
A crucial trap: you must NOT stop gluten before testing, otherwise the antibodies fall and diagnosis becomes impossible (false negative). Many people self-diagnose, stop gluten, and deprive themselves of a reliable diagnosis for life.
The only treatment is a strict, lifelong gluten-free diet. The slightest contamination (crumbs, shared utensils) reactivates the disease. Untreated, it exposes you to deficiencies, other autoimmune diseases and a rare risk of intestinal lymphoma.