General approach to Celiac Disease: a narrative review

Abstract

Objective: Synthesize Celiac Disease (CD), point the etiopathogenesis, clinical findings, complications, diagnosis and treatment, helping physicians in clinical practice. Bibliographic review: CD is highly prevalent and incident in the global population, especially in females in their 30s. Classically, the disease presents manifestations such as diarrhea and abdominal pain, but it can still have extra intestinal signs and symptoms or even present itself without them. It is characterized as an immune-mediated disease in individuals who have had contact with gluten for the first time and are genetically predisposed. Diagnosis of the disease is based on serological tests and histological findings by endoscopy, and its official treatment is a gluten-free diet. Final considerations: Due to the ease of screening for this disease, through serology, it is necessary that a screening be carried out in some selected patients, mainly due to the possibility of being asymptomatic or of presenting other non-intestinal manifestations. As the treatment of the disease is based only on a gluten-free diet, the patient must be warned about the need to adhere to this lifestyle and must always be monitored regarding their nutritional deficiencies and any complications and aggravations that may arise.