Celiac Disease and Cancer – Are There Potential Links? Is the Vigilance of Immune System in Celiac Disease a Double-edged Sword?

Abstract

Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic immune -mediated inflammatory intestinal disorder with prevalence about 1% of the West European population. The emergence of the disease is dependent on presence of grain storage proteins from wheat, barley, and rye (collectively called gluten) and genetic predisposition. After diagnosis is immediately deployed lifelong gluten free diet (GFD) to promote villous healing. In the case of CD -like other autoimmune disease, additional complications are observed especially if dietary compliance is poor. The most serious complications are malignancies including predominantly various types of lymphomas. On the other hand recent studies indicate lower risk of colon cancer in contrast to cutaneous malignant melanoma where the results are contradictory.