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Coeliac disease: an old or a new disease? History of a pathology

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Abstract

The celiac disease is an ancient pathology, present since the introduction of the wheat in the diet, of which the first description of the compatible clinical symptoms and signs goes back to 250 A.D. Today it is known that the expression of this pathology is multifaceted, ranging from clinical features indicative of bowel disease and malabsorption, until symptoms once unexpected, because of their extra-digestive clinical features. With our work, we wanted to retrace the history of this disease, correlating it with the intake of gluten present in wheat after cooking , ever since mankind has increased the cultivation of cereals. Re-evaluating the clinical and instrumental methods for the diagnosis of Celiac Disease, and benefitting from the most modern techniques for the morphological, biochemical and genetic study of the patients, we sought to understand whether the incidence of the disease is actually increased or if has been considered less frequent for the lower valuation of the signs once deemed more atypical, but currently considered preliminary indicative of the pathology, for its association with other autoimmune diseases, and for the study of some genetic and familiar characteristics. Each of these factors has led the modern medicine to increase epidemiological studies and expand the research potential carriers of celiac disease with safer diagnostic tests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fondazione Ricerca in Medicina ONLUS, 40123, Bologna, Italy

    Giovanni Battista Gasbarrini

  2. Gastroenterology Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Policlinico “A. Gemelli” Hospital, Catholic University of Sacred Hearth, Lgo Gemelli 8, 00168, Rome, Italy

    Francesca Mangiola, Viviana Gerardi, Gianluca Ianiro & Antonio Gasbarrini

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Celiac Centre, S. Matteo Hospital Foundation, University of Pavia, 27100, Pavia, Italy

    Gino Roberto Corazza

Authors
  1. Giovanni Battista Gasbarrini
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  2. Francesca Mangiola
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  3. Viviana Gerardi
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  4. Gianluca Ianiro
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  5. Gino Roberto Corazza
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  6. Antonio Gasbarrini
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Correspondence to Francesca Mangiola.

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Gasbarrini, G.B., Mangiola, F., Gerardi, V. et al. Coeliac disease: an old or a new disease? History of a pathology. Intern Emerg Med 9, 249–256 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11739-013-1044-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11739-013-1044-5

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