Health Tip: Celiac Disease May Trigger Serious Complications

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(HealthDay News) -- Celiac disease causes the body's immune system to prevent the small intestine from working properly, denying the body needed nutrients.

This can lead to a number of potential complications, the American Gastroenterological Association says. Among them:

• Greater risk of anemia or malnutrition.
• "Refractory" celiac disease, which causes symptoms to persist despite a gluten-free diet.
• Short stature in children, or osteoporosis.
• Greater risk of lymphoma or intestinal cancer.
• Some people with celiac have other autoimmune disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disease or type 1 diabetes.

-- Diana Kohnle

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