352.1 ð é«åžçç
352.1.1 Epidemiology
- ~ 1% Caucasian / European
- Lower in Asian (~ 0.5%); rising
- Female 2:1 vs male
- Family clustering
- HLA-DQ2 (95%) + HLA-DQ8 (5%) â necessary but not sufficient
352.1.2 Pathogenesis
- Gluten (wheat, barley, rye) â gliadin
- HLA-DQ2/DQ8 presents to T cells
- T-cell mediated villous atrophy
- Tissue transglutaminase autoantibody
- Inflammatory damage
352.1.3 Clinical Spectrum
Classic Celiac: - Diarrhea (sometimes steatorrhea) - Malabsorption - Weight loss - Failure to thrive (pediatric) - Bloating, gas
Non-Classic Celiac: - Iron deficiency anemia (most common) - Osteoporosis - Vitamin D, K deficiency - Infertility, miscarriage - Dermatitis herpetiformis (pathognomonic; IgA deposits) - Neurologic (ataxia, neuropathy, encephalopathy) - Fatigue, depression - Aphthous stomatitis - Dental enamel defects
Silent Celiac: - Asymptomatic - Found on screening (family screening, T1DM, etc.)
352.1.4 Associated Conditions
- Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (5-10% T1DM have celiac)
- Autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto, Graves)
- IgA deficiency (10-fold higher; tTG IgG needed)
- Down syndrome
- Turner syndrome
- Williams syndrome
- Selective IgA deficiency
- Microscopic colitis
- Liver disease (PBC, autoimmune hepatitis)
- Sjögren syndrome
352.1.5 Diagnosis
Serology (Critical): - Anti-tissue transglutaminase IgA (anti-tTG IgA) â preferred initial screen - Total serum IgA â check for deficiency - If IgA deficient: anti-tTG IgG, anti-DGP IgG - Anti-endomysial antibody (EMA) â confirmatory, expensive - Anti-gliadin antibodies (older, less specific)
Duodenal Biopsy (Gold Standard): - During EGD - 4-6 samples from distal duodenum + bulb - Marsh classification: - Marsh 1: intraepithelial lymphocytosis (IEL) - Marsh 2: + crypt hyperplasia - Marsh 3a-c: + villous atrophy (partial, subtotal, total) - Must be on gluten diet for valid testing (challenge or while on gluten)
Genetic Testing (HLA-DQ2/DQ8): - Negative predictive value high (rules out) - Positive doesnât confirm - Useful for family screening, ambiguous cases, IgA deficiency
Diagnostic Criteria (ESPGHAN 2020 Pediatric): - High anti-tTG IgA (> 10x ULN) + EMA + HLA-DQ2/DQ8: can avoid biopsy - Otherwise biopsy
352.1.6 Treatment
Gluten-Free Diet (GFD) â Lifelong: - Strict avoidance of wheat, barley, rye - Oats: usually safe but cross-contamination risk - Dietitian guidance - Reading food labels (gluten-free certification < 20 ppm) - 70-80% improve histologically; 90%+ symptom improvement
Refractory Celiac: - Persistent symptoms + histology despite GFD ⥠12 months - Type I (no clonal IEL) vs Type II (clonal IEL â risk for EATL â enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma) - Workup: rule out gluten contamination, other diagnoses - Treatment: budesonide, AZA, biologics, autologous SCT
Emerging Therapies: - Latiglutenase (ALV003): gluten-degrading enzymes - Larazotide acetate (AT-1001): tight junction modulator - Cell-based therapies: investigational
Vaccinations + Adjunctive: - Pneumococcal (functional asplenia) - Vitamin + mineral supplementation - DEXA scan - Liver function periodic
352.1.7 Tropical Sprue
- Tropical countries (esp Asia)
- Bacterial overgrowth + nutritional
- Diarrhea + weight loss + folate/B12 deficiency
- Treatment: tetracycline + folate + B12
352.1.8 Whipple Disease
- Tropheryma whipplei (rare)
- Multi-systemic
- Arthralgia â GI â neurologic
- Diagnosis: PAS-positive macrophages in lamina propria; PCR
- Treatment: IV ceftriaxone à 2-4 weeks â TMP-SMX à 1 year
352.1.9 AIDS Enteropathy
- HIV + opportunistic infections
- Cryptosporidium, microsporidia, MAC
- Treatment of opportunistic + ART
352.1.10 Pancreatic Insufficiency
- Chronic pancreatitis, CF, pancreatic cancer
- Steatorrhea + malabsorption
- Fecal elastase < 200 ÎŒg/g
- Treatment: pancreatic enzyme replacement (PERT) + ADEK vitamins
352.1.11 Bile Salt Deficiency
- Cholestasis (cirrhosis, PBC)
- Ileal resection / disease
- Bacterial overgrowth
- Fat malabsorption
- Treatment: address underlying; cholestyramine for bile acid diarrhea
352.1.12 Lymphangiectasia
- Intestinal lymphatic dilatation
- Protein-losing enteropathy
- Hypoalbuminemia, edema
- Treatment: low-fat MCT diet
352.1.13 Short Bowel Syndrome
- Resection of significant bowel
- Malabsorption
- TPN, special diets, teduglutide (GLP-2 analog)
352.1.14 Pathophysiology
- Excessive bacterial colonization of small bowel
- Usually > 10^5 organisms/mL
- Causes: small bowel stasis (motility issues), structural (diverticula, surgery), achlorhydria
352.1.15 Risk Factors
- Diabetes (autonomic neuropathy)
- Scleroderma
- Post-bariatric surgery
- Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
- Diverticula (small bowel)
- Crohnâs disease
- Achlorhydria (PPI, autoimmune gastritis)
- Cirrhosis
- Elderly
352.1.16 Clinical
- Bloating
- Diarrhea (sometimes steatorrhea)
- Abdominal pain
- Weight loss
- Vitamin B12 deficiency (some)
- Iron deficiency
- Malabsorption
352.1.17 Diagnosis
- Hydrogen breath test (lactulose or glucose) â most common
- Methane breath test (methanogens)
- Jejunal aspirate culture (gold standard, rarely done)
- Clinical context
352.1.18 Treatment
- Rifaximin (550 mg TID Ã 14 days) â first-line
- Alternatives: norfloxacin, metronidazole, ciprofloxacin
- Recurrent (50%+): re-treatment + address underlying
- Treat underlying motility / structural issues
- Prokinetics (metoclopramide, prucalopride)
- Diet (low FODMAP for some)
352.1.19 Definition
- Lactase deficiency â unmetabolized lactose
- Fermentation by colonic bacteria â gas, bloating, diarrhea
352.1.20 Subtypes
- Primary lactase deficiency (most common â Asians, African, Native American descent)
- Secondary (post-gastroenteritis, celiac, Crohnâs, after antibiotics)
- Congenital (rare; infant)
352.1.21 Diagnosis
- Hydrogen breath test
- Lactose tolerance test (less common)
- Lactose elimination + reintroduction
- Genetic testing (lactase persistence variants)
352.1.22 Treatment
- Lactose restriction
- Lactose-free dairy
- Lactase enzyme supplements (Lactaid)
- Yogurt (live cultures) often tolerated
352.1.23 Steatorrhea
- Fecal fat > 7-9 g/day
- Sudan stain (qualitative)
- 72-h quantitative
- Causes: pancreatic insufficiency, bile salt deficiency, mucosal disease
352.1.25 Protein Malabsorption
- Less common
- Alpha-1 antitrypsin clearance (protein-losing enteropathy)
- Hypoalbuminemia
352.1.26 Vitamin Deficiencies
- B12 (terminal ileum, gastric, IF deficiency)
- Folate (jejunum)
- Iron (duodenum, jejunum)
- Vitamin A, D, E, K (fat-soluble â bile + pancreas)
352.1.26.1 𩺠åºé鿥
- Celiac: anti-tTG IgA + total IgA + duodenal biopsy (villous atrophy); HLA-DQ2/DQ8; lifelong GFD
- Refractory celiac: rule out gluten contamination + workup; Type II â EATL risk
- Dermatitis herpetiformis: pathognomonic for celiac
- SIBO: hydrogen breath test; rifaximin 550 TID Ã 14 d
- Lactose intolerance: hydrogen breath test; lactose restriction + Lactaid
- Pancreatic insufficiency: fecal elastase + PERT + ADEK vitamins
- Whipple: PAS-positive macrophages + IV ceftriaxone â TMP-SMX 1 year
- Tropical sprue: tetracycline + folate + B12