Celiac Disease as an Underlying Cause of Multisystemic Symptoms: Consequences of Delayed Diagnosis - A Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2025.81.66624Keywords
celiac disease, gluten-free diet, extraintestinal manifestations, Duhring diseaseAbstract
Introduction and purpose
Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder that develops in genetically predisposed individuals in response to gluten intake. The overall prevalence of CD is approximately 0.75% in the general population, making it a condition frequently encountered in everyday clinical practice. CD impacts multiple organ systems. This paper describes its influence on, among others, the skin and mucous membranes, hematological parameters, bone health, reproductive function, and neuropsychiatric status. This review aims to summarize current evidence on the extraintestinal manifestations of this condition and highlight the importance of early recognition of these diverse symptoms.
A brief description of the state of knowledge
A comprehensive literature review was conducted using PubMed and MDPI databases. The analysis included original articles, reviews, and meta-analyses related to extraintestinal symptoms of CD, with emphasis on publications from the last ten years. The findings suggest that such symptoms are common and frequently non-specific, which frequently contributes to diagnostic delays. Many of them may occur before gastrointestinal symptoms or appear as isolated signs, leading to underdiagnosis and untreated disease.
Summary
Many extraintestinal symptoms of CD are still overlooked by clinicians. Improving healthcare professionals’ awareness of these symptoms may lead to earlier diagnosis and earlier initiation of a gluten-free diet. Timely treatment can help avoid long-term complications and significantly improve patients’ prognosis and quality of life.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Wiktoria Boral, Marek Dróżdż, Alicja Czyszczoń, Aneta Tkaczyk, Bartosz Maczkowski, Jan Puliński, Aleksandra Przelaskowska, Wiktoria Marzec, Julia Linke
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