Points to Remember About Celiac Disease

• People with celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten, a protein in wheat, rye, barley, and possibly oats.
  
  
• Celiac disease damages the small intestine and interferes with nutrient absorption.
  
  
• Treatment is important because people with celiac disease could develop complications like cancer, osteoporosis, anemia, and seizures.
  
  
• A person with celiac disease may or may not have symptoms.
  
  
• Diagnosis involves blood tests and biopsy.
  
  
• Because celiac disease is hereditary, family members of a person with celiac disease may need to be tested.
  
  
• Celiac disease is treated by eliminating all gluten from the diet. The gluten-free diet is a lifetime requirement.

source: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/celiac/index.htm