Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×
  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.




  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):



    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):


  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Yvonne (Vonnie) Mostat, RN
    Yvonne (Vonnie) Mostat, RN

    The Different Types of Celiac Disease

    Reviewed and edited by a celiac disease expert.

    Silent or asymptomatic celiac disease tends to be the most difficult form of celiac disease to diagnose, and many in this category are totally surprised at the time of their diagnosis.

    The Different Types of Celiac Disease - Look out! Potential!! Image: CC BY-SA 2.0--M0les
    Caption: Look out! Potential!! Image: CC BY-SA 2.0--M0les

    Celiac.com 11/11/2022 - You are either diagnosed with celiac disease, are gluten sensitive, or perhaps you have latent or silent celiac disease, which may mean that you seem to have few or even no health problems at all, yet you sill are a celiac. Latent and silent celiac disease seem to occur more often in adults, but they can also affect children as well. Did you know that there are several types of celiac disease, and experts don't always agree on how to deal with each type?

    Researchers Now Recognize Several Types of Celiac Disease:

    Classic Celiac Disease

    This version manifests with the classical GI symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, and possible vomiting, which can also cause dehydration, dizziness, and lead to vitamin and mineral deficiencies. This type of celiac disease is usually the easiest form to diagnose. People in this category will end up having positive blood antibody and endoscopy (biopsy) test results for celiac disease, and all doctors should recommend that they go on a gluten-free diet for life.

    Atypical Celiac Disease

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A12):
    People with atypical celiac disease generally do not have GI symptoms, but they may have other health issues, for example autoimmune thyroid problems, unexplained skin rashes, undefined bleeding, and/or nerve damage like ataxia. Those with this form of celiac disease can often go undiagnosed for years, and many have to go from doctor to doctor before they finally get the proper tests done and get diagnosed. Those in this category will end up having positive blood antibody and endoscopy (biopsy) test results for celiac disease, and all doctors should recommend that they go on a gluten-free diet for life.

    Asymptomatic Celiac Disease or Silent Celiac Disease

    This category is also a form of atypical celiac disease, and it is categorized by those who have little or no symptoms, but it can still affect different parts of their body. Since celiac disease, in any form is a skin, gut, and brain/nerve disease, it can often be difficult to diagnose silent or asymptomatic celiac disease, and it is often found by accident while running other medical tests. Some may have abnormal liver tests, or low iron and/or B12 or other nutrient levels, and even though they may not have any symptoms they will still have various levels of villous atrophy of the small intestines. Many in this group are sent to numerous specialists, and end up having many medical tests done before discovering that they have celiac disease. Those in this group will end up having positive blood antibody and endoscopy (biopsy) test results for celiac disease, and all doctors should recommend that they go on a gluten-free diet for life.

    Silent or asymptomatic celiac disease tends to be the most difficult form of celiac disease to diagnose, and many in this category are totally surprised at the time of their diagnosis, and can often be skeptical about needing to go on a gluten-free diet. A minority of doctors may even tell silent celiac disease patients that a gluten-free diet is optional, however, all patients in this group should go gluten-free.

    Potential Celiac Disease or Latent Celiac Disease

    People in either of these groups may have positive blood tests for celiac disease yet a negative biopsy. Some experts believe that this may be an early stage of celiac disease, before the villi are damaged. Some doctors tell patients in this group that they do not need to be on a gluten-free diet, however, anyone who has abnormally high celiac disease antibody levels likely falls into the “non-celiac gluten sensitivity” (NCGS) category, and many experts agree that this could represent a pre-celiac disease stage, and if so it would be best to avoid uncomfortable symptoms and other possible related health issues, so people in this group should also consider going on a gluten-free diet for life.

    I used to feel very sorry for the atypical and silent celiac disease folks, but I stopped feeling so sorry for them because they usually don't have dermatitis herpetiformis, which I have, and my dermatitis herpetiformis symptoms can be horrible. While the some people in the asymptomatic or silent category may not want to go gluten-free, even though they should, I knew within twenty-four hours that I had been "bitten" with gluten because my dermatitis herpetiformis sores would itch and drive me crazy, but at least I knew I had ingested gluten. Whenever this happens I'm in for a tough itchy time for a ten day period, and need to use Dapsone for the itch and Atarax to help eliminate me continually scratching my scalp, arms and thighs. 

    A big warning to those with potential celiac disease and latent celiac disease: If you continue ingesting gluten, one day you may be surprised that you have graduated to the classic form of celiac disease and end up with malabsorption issues and a host of related health issues, perhaps even dermatitis herpetiformis. Again, many experts agree that patients in these groups should remain gluten-free, which may help some to escape getting full blown celiac disease, while allowing others to avoid the many issues that can be associated with non-celiac gluten sensitivity. 



    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    Guest Linda

    What about refractory celiacs 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    trents

    The author states in the Potential Celiac Disease or Latent Celiac Disease paragaraph with regard to NCGS: "People in either of these groups may have positive blood tests for celiac disease yet a negative biopsy." While this may be true, more commonly NCGS people have neither elevated antibody blood tests or villi damage.

    Nonetheless, a very helpful article and something that brings together in one place an overview of the variable expression of gluten disorders. Every primary care physician should read this. It would go a long way toward correcting the misconceptions about gluten disorders many of us encounter in the medical community that often pushes back a correct diagnosis and healing for years.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Auldtwa

    I was originally diagnosed because I went terribly anemic; after checking for internal bleeding (which wasn't occurring) my doctor ordered blood tests.  My endoscopy came back as "indeterminate."  The doctor said "go gluten free" which I did. After he retired my new GI guy said what I have is "Atypical" which doesn't exactly jibe with this article. But I have stayed gluten free.

    On reason I have stayed gluten free is that I discovered that after a year or so of it I had a horrible and violent reaction to getting "glutened." Uncontrolled projectile vomiting.  It has hospitalized me twice and flattened me several other times. This has been going on since 2014.  (I now keep anti-nausea suppositories on hand but have only needed them once; they did help.) I have heard others have this reaction.  I don't know if it would happen to ANYONE who went gluten free for an extended period or only those who have some indications of celiac disease.  

    I can tolerate possible trace gluten--of the "prepared in a facility that also" types.  I suspect this is because those warnings are more legal cover than actual--that those facilities do in fact take precautions.  But anything with an actual gluten-containing ingredient listed is danger-ville. (I was once caught by the mislabeling of artificial crab as "real crab." In other cases I was assured that the dish was gluten free but was in fact misinformed. This often happens with things containing soy sauce. You can ask away if it is tamari or soy sauce but too many don't know there is a difference). 

    One further note: I have suffered from IBS since childhood. That has NOT been cured by going gluten free. It is strictly lower bowel--none of the "gas" issues others note. So while celiac is often misdiagnosed as IBS, all IBS is not celiac.  

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites


    Create an account or sign in to comment

    You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

    Create an account

    Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

    Register a new account

    Sign in

    Already have an account? Sign in here.

    Sign In Now

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Donate
  • About Me

    Yvonne (Vonnie) Mostat, RN

    I am a freelance journalist and a retired registered nurse and live in Canada. I write regularly for Celiac.com's Journal of Gluten Sensitivity and several secular magazines, as well as for five or six religious magazines, both Protestant and Catholic. Since retiring as a nurse, journalism, my second university major, has been a life saver for me, both my poetry and articles.


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):





    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):




  • Related Articles

    Scott Adams
    Celiac Disease Screening
    Celiac.com 03/05/2019 - Doctors commonly suggest celiac screening for anyone with a family history of celiac disease, or of disorders such as thyroid disease, anemia of unknown cause, type I diabetes or other immune disorders or Downs syndrome. Otherwise, patients are generally screened on a case by case basis according to individual symptoms.
    Blood Testing - Antibodies Point to Celiac Disease
    Screening for celiac disease usually begins with a blood test.
    People with celiac disease have abnormally high levels of associated antibodies, including one or more of the following: anti-gliadin, anti-endomysium and anti-tissue transglutaminase, and damage to the villi (shortening and villous flattening) in the lamina propria and crypt regions of their intestines when they ...


    Wendy Cohan, RN
    Celiac Disease Head to Toe
    Celiac.com 04/05/2019 (Originally published on 10/19/2009) - Gluten intolerance caused by celiac disease, or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, may affect virtually any part of the body. A culprit in multiple health disorders, gluten intolerance is a major driver of health care delivery and associated costs.  While this may seem to be an outrageous claim, a review of the many ways in which gluten intolerance can adversely affect the body will illustrate this point. So, let’s work our way down from head to toe.
    Celiac Disease Can Cause Hair Loss
    Normal, healthy hair is usually glossy and thick.  An autoimmune disorder known as alopecia areata results in abnormal loss of hair, either in patches, or totally, and is one of many autoimmune disorders associated with celiac disease. Malab...


    Dr. Ron Hoggan, Ed.D.
    Metabonomics and Celiac Disease: A New Frontier
    Celiac.com 03/29/2019 - What are we looking for when we ask for testing for celiac disease? The primary objective is usually to discover whether a given set of troubling symptoms are the result of eating gluten. With asymtomatic family members, the objective is likely to avoid developing the many health problems that are in the offing for those with untreated celiac disease. But maybe there is another reason to test for celiac disease. Perhaps some people could achieve optimum health— a better and longer life—through eliminating gluten from their diets. Two relatively new developments in the field of celiac disease research may open the path to testing aimed at optimal health. These discoveries may offer a better understanding of the dynamics of celiac disease and others who are genetically sus...


    Heidi Kelly
    Atypical Celiac Disease
    Celiac.com 05/10/2019 (originally published 10/08/2010) - After giving birth to my first son in 2003, my OB/GYN tested me for diabetes due to a sore on my leg that would not heal.  The diabetes test came back negative but my thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level was extremely high.  Further testing revealed Grave’s disease.  After seeing an endocrinologist I underwent radioactive iodine ablation to “kill” my thyroid gland.  After ten months of unsuccessful thyroid replacement therapy, following radioactive iodine ablation due to Grave’s disease, I was diagnosed with celiac disease in April of 2005.  
    Once I had begun Levoxyl, a thyroid replacement hormone, things got worse instead of better.  I had monthly blood work done to check my TSH levels in order to see if I was on the pr...


  • Recent Activity

    1. - marip replied to marip's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      2

      Could this be celiac?

    2. - trents replied to sh00148's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      17

      Vomiting - celiac or constipation

    3. - sh00148 replied to sh00148's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      17

      Vomiting - celiac or constipation

    4. - trents replied to sh00148's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      17

      Vomiting - celiac or constipation

    5. - RMJ replied to RiosMom's topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      3

      Shampoo/Body Wash


  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):



  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      125,635
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748

    PamelaPat
    Newest Member
    PamelaPat
    Joined

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):


  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.8k
    • Total Posts
      1m

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):





  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):



  • Popular Now

    • sh00148
      17
    • pasqualeb
      9
    • Jean Shifrin
      14
    • V.Beth
      14
  • Popular Articles

    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
    • Scott Adams
  • Upcoming Events

×
×
  • Create New...