Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 June 2020
Coeliac disease (CD) is a chronic, immune-mediated condition caused by exposure to dietary gluten in genetically susceptible individuals. The prevalence of CD in the general population is estimated at 1%. A gluten-free diet (GFD) is an effective treatment for the vast majority of individuals with CD. Despite advances in serological testing, the duodenal biopsy remains essential for the diagnosis of CD. The morphological features of established CD have been well described. However, early changes in the duodenum, e.g. an increase in intraepithelial lymphocytes, are not specific for CD. Architectural changes in the duodenal biopsy are more specific for CD, but the pathologist should be aware of other conditions that can cause villous atrophy. Some patients with CD do not respond to a GFD, and may have refractory CD (RCD), a condition believed to represent a cryptic form of the most common malignancy in CD: enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma. Early detection of RCD is essential in guiding more aggressive management.The aims of this chapter are to describe the histological features of CD and its variations and complications, and to discuss the key differential diagnoses, with particular emphasis on features that help to distinguish CD from other conditions.
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