Definitions of gluten-related disorders:
According to The Oslo Definitions for Celiac Disease and Related Terms by Ludvigsson JF et al (2):
- Gluten-related disorder is a term used to include all diseases triggered by gluten consumption.
- Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic autoimmune small bowel disease occurring after gluten consumption in genetically susceptible patients.
- Classical CD is a presentation of signs and symptoms of malabsorption which includes weight loss, diarrhea, steatorrhea, or poor growth.
- Other gluten related disorders include: non-classical CD without malabsorption, subclinical CD without gastrointestinal symptoms, symptomatic CD, refractory CD, potential CD, CD autoimmunity, genetically at-risk CD, non-celiac gluten sensitivity, Gliadin-specific antibodies, gluten ataxia, and dermatitis herpetiformis (blistering rash).
Symptoms of gluten related disorder:
Symptoms of gluten related disorder may be difficult to separate from other gastrointestinal illnesses, and include diarrhea, constipation, weight loss, weight gain, abdominal bloating, malodorous stool, and abdominal pain. Gluten related disease may also cause extraintestinal health problems such as bone demineralization, osteoporosis, joint pains, weight gain, weight loss, elevated liver function tests, enamel defects, apthous stomatitis, lower birth weights, poor childhood weight gain, hypocalcemia, fatigue, weakness, dry skin, blistering rash, eczema, iron deficiency anemia, infertility, microscopic colitis, pancreatic exocrine dysfunction, depression, neuropathy or numbness of the extremities, cerebellar ataxia, epilepsy, dementia, and headaches. The tongue is also commonly affected with soreness, burning, redness or atrophy. Infrequent diarrhea plus tongue symptoms have often led to a diagnosis of celiac disease (3).
