Einheimische Sprue (Zöliakie)

Abstract

Celiac disease is a life-long enteropathy caused by an intolerance to gluten. The pathologic lesion of the small intestinal mucosa is characterized by the loss of absorptive villi, crypt cell hyperplasia, and infiltration of the lamina propria with inflammatory cells. The clinical presentation of celiac disease varies greatly depending on patient's age, duration and extent of the disease, and the presence of extraintestinal manifestations. The classical symptoms like diarrhea, weight loss and abdominal pain are seen less common. Unfortunately, most patients with celiac disease have either silent or atypical presentations, thus escaping diagnosis for several years. The pathologic changes and symptoms resolve when gluten is excluded from the diet for a sustained period. Untreated celiac disease is associated with significant risk of the development of enteropathy-associated intestinal lymphoma.

Inadequate Nutrient Intake in Patients with Celiac Disease: Results from a German Dietary Survey

“…Following the ingestion of gluten and related prolamines, immunological processes damage the mucosa and lead to the reduction of villi to the point of villous atrophy and crypt hyperplasia, thus causing nutrient malabsorption [1,2,3]. Therefore, the only treatment for CD is lifelong adherence to a strictly gluten-free diet (GFD) which excludes all processed and natural foods containing gluten [4].…”