Hugh James Freeman*

Professor, Department of Medicine (Gastroenterology), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

*Corresponding Author: Hugh James Freeman, Professor, Department of Medicine (Gastroenterology), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Received: February 13, 2025; Published: February 28, 2026

Abstract

Adult celiac disease is an immune-mediated small intestinal mucosal disorder that may be clinically manifested by diarrhea, weight loss and nutrient malabsorption accompanied by characteristic histopathological changes in the small bowel. The disease occurs in genetically-predisposed persons and responds to a gluten-free diet. Serological screening studies have estimated that the disease occurs in about 1%. In recent years, however, similar clinical and pathologic features may result from an emerging array of infectious agents as well as newer pharmacological and biological medications. Thus, exclusion of these novel causes in this modern era may be critical in diagnosis of celiac disease. Indeed, and most important, only in celiac disease does a gluten-free diet lead to improved mucosal recovery and resolution.

Keywords: Adult Celiac Disease; Gluten-Sensitive Enteropathy; Sprue-Like Intestinal Disease; Medication-Induced Small Bowel Disease

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Citation

Citation: Hugh James Freeman. “Critical Definition of Celiac Disease and Sprue-Like Intestinal Disease in Adults". Acta Scientific Gastrointestinal Disorders 9.2 (2026): 20-26.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2026 Hugh James Freeman. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.