An Overview of Coeliac Disease

There are an estimated 50,000 people living with coeliac disease in Ireland, and a further 400,000 who are gluten intolerant. Furthermore, many cases of coeliac disease go undiagnosed Coeliac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten ingestion in genetically predisposed individuals, resulting in mucosal inflammation and villous atrophy in the small intestine leading to malabsorption. It is a chronic disease and is not an allergy or food intolerance.

Hospital Professional News spoke to Theresa Lowry Lehnen, Clinical Nurse Practitioner and Associate Lecturer South East Technological University to gain further insights into this condition.