Refractory Celiac Disease

Refractory celiac disease (RCD) refers to persistence of malnutrition and intestinal villous atrophy for more than 1 to 2  years despite strict gluten-free diet in patients with celiac disease. Diagnosis remains difficult and impacts treatment and follow-up. RCD has been subdivided into 2 subgroups according to the normal (RCDI) or abnormal phenotype of intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) (RCDII). RCDII is considered a s a low-grade intraepithelial lymphoma and has a poor prognosis due to gastrointestinal and extraintestinal dissemination of the abnormal IELs, and high risk of overt lymphoma.
Source: Gastroenterology Clinics of North America - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Source Type: research