Pathology of coeliac disease.

Abstract

Coeliac disease is a malabsorption syndrome which is associated with subtotal villous atrophy in the jejunal mucosa due to the damaging effect of wheat gluten in susceptible members of the population. It occurs in children or adults in an overt symptomatic form or as an occult disorder which manifests itself through the development of complications. Introduction of a gluten free diet leads to restoration of a normal villous pattern in the jejunum and to an improvement in the patients general health although there is always a risk of relapse caused by failure to adhere to a strict gluten free diet or alternatively signalling the development of complications.