To successfully treat and prevent recurrence of celiac disease we need to understand and — if possible — remove the underlying causes and risk factors. We need to ask: "What else is going on inside the body that might allow celiac disease to develop?"
Accurate diagnosis of the factors behind celiac disease consists of three steps:
Cause | Probability | Status |
---|---|---|
Chronic Thyroiditis | 95% | Confirm |
Rheumatoid Arthritis | 12% | Unlikely |
Autoimmune Tendency | 2% | Ruled out |
Sjogren's Syndrome | 0% | Ruled out |
Do you have Celiac Disease, also known as Gluten Sensitivity, Gluten Allergy or Wheat Allergy?
Possible responses:
→ Don't know→ No, it has been ruled out → Probably, but unconfirmed → Mild/moderate - confirmed by doctor or lab test → Severe - confirmed by doctor or lab test |
People with celiac disease are more likely to develop Autoimmune Thyroid Disease (ATD) than the general public, and the reverse is also true. Consuming gluten triggers an autoimmune process in those with celiac disease, causing the immune system to attack the body itself. In the case of ATD, the target of the attack is thyroid gland, resulting in a deficiency or excess of hormones, which causes unpredictable metabolic changes. The most common type of ATD is hypothyroidism.
In one study, 83 patients with autoimmune thyroid disorder were screened for celiac disease. Three patients with asymptomatic celiac disease were found along with one who had previously been diagnosed, giving an overall frequency of 4.8%. By contrast, only one of 249 age- and sex-matched blood donors was found to have celiac disease.
People with Rheumatoid Arthritis have a higher risk of also being diagnosed with Celiac Disease.
Many Celiac Disease patients report they also have Sjogren's Syndrome, and vice versa. Sjogren's Syndrome has been reported in up to 15% of patients with proven Celiac Disease.
Having been diagnosed with celiac disease implies a much lower chance of Crohn's disease being the explanation for one's symptoms.
Having been diagnosed with celiac disease implies a much lower chance of ulcerative colitis being the explanation for one's symptoms.