Also known as<unk>  Sprue”
Affects 0.6 to 1.0% of worldwide population
Occurs in industrialized countries and developing countries among all ethnicities and races
Occurs in children and adults
1.5 to 2 times more prevalent in females than in males
Gluten is found in wheat, rye, and barley
Associated with strong family history, Type 1 DM, autoimmune thyroid disorders along with other autoimmune disorders, Turner’s syndrome, and Down syndrome
Rotavirus infection in children increases risk of developing disease
Breastfeeding reported to reduce risk by 50%
MHC class II proteins HLA-DQ2 (90%) and HLA-DQ8 are expressed in almost all of patients affected by<unk> 
Gluten triggers an immune mediated systemic disorder
Can be weeks to years between gluten exposure and onset of symptoms
Gluten is mainly composed of prolamine and glutanin
Prolamines (such as Gliadin found in wheat) interact with intestinal cells to cause breakdown of the inter-enterocyte tight junctions
Proposed that HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 present prolamines to antigen-specific<unk> 4+ T lymphocytes in lamina propria of the small bowel
Once activated,<unk> 4+ T cells release pro-inflammatory cytokines and activate T-helper cells
Proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-15 stimulate<unk> 8+ T-lymphocytes
T-helper type 1 cells release IFN-gamma
T-helper type 2 cells promote conversion of B cells to plasma cells that produce anti-gliadin and anti-tissue-transglutaminase antibodies that are used in serologic testing
This process leads to<unk>  enteropathy with histological features such as decreased enterocyte height, crypt hyperplasia, villous atrophy, and increased intraepithelial T lymphocytes
Prolamines (such as Gliadin found in wheat) interact with intestinal cells to cause breakdown of the inter-enterocyte tight junctions
Celiac disease
Acute diarrhea
Crohn's disease
Chronic diarrhea
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Irritable bowel syndrome
Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth
Post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome