Definition: autoimmune enteropathy sensitivity to protein gluten (gliadin fraction) of wheat, rye, barley etc. in genetically predisposed individuals.

Demographics

• 0.6 -1% population
• females
• 8-12m or 30-40 bimodal peak
• northern Europeans
• Associated with other autoimmune disorders (DM1, thyroid)
• 80% people with it undiagnosed

Aetiology

• genetic predisposition with HLA-DQ2 or DQ8 alleles → production of IgA anti-gliadin Ab

Risk Factors

• FHx
• other AI conditions
• chromosomal syndromes
• IBS, IBD, RA, Sarcoidosis