Expert Rev GastroenterolHepatol. 2024Dec25:117.doi:10.1080/17474124.2024.2443053. Online ahead of print.

Pilar Lazzano ¹, Elia Fracas ¹, Nicoletta Nandi ¹, Lucia Scaramella ², Luca Elli ^1 2

Author information

¹Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy.

²Center for Prevention and Diagnosis of Celiac Disease, Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Unit, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.

Abstract

Introduction: Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune enteropathy characterized by atrophy of the intestinal mucosa triggered by the ingestion of gluten in individuals with a genetic predisposition. CD manifests with heterogeneous array of symptoms, including a wide range of intestinal and extraintestinal symptoms and manifestations (EIMs). The mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of EIMs in CD are not only related to intestinal mucosal damage and associated malabsorption but also to systemic inflammation. To date, the only effective treatment for CD is a lifelong gluten-free diet (GFD). Proper adherence to the GFD leads in most cases to a gradual resolution of intestinal atrophy and results in an improvement of the clinical manifestations associated with intestinal damage.

Areas covered: This review, based on a Pubmed literature search, describes the extraintestinal complications associated with CD, emphasizing strategies for therapeutic management and responsiveness to the GFD.

Expert opinion: CD is associated with different EIMs which can affect different organs. The main clinical interest is if these complications respond to the GFD, which occur at variable rate and not for all disorders associated with CD. Therefore, often complementary additional therapies are needed to achieve optimal symptoms resolution.