ABSTRACT
This chapter serves as a guide to those who wish to review the understanding of the clinical features and associations of the disease. Childhood celiac disease is a condition characterized by malabsorption and growth disturbances in association with a specific histological lesion of the small intestine. Since the early 1950s there have been extensive investigations into the complex chemistry of the cereal proteins in search of the specific property (factor) that is harmful and to learn how this factor produces its damaging effect on the small intestinal mucosa of celiac patients. Utilizing a technique for maintaining human small intestine in culture, celiac mucosa has been demonstrated to undergo morphological and biochemical improvement when cultured in media free from gliadin peptides. Certain genetic and environmental factors have been recognized to be associated with celiac disease. Epidemiological studies in celiac disease report regional differences in its incidence.
