Gluten sensitivity: A clinical approach in pediatric patients

Celiac disease has been considered to now the most classical food-related disorder in infancy and childhood. Since 1970 the most important diagnostic feature was the gluten-dependent intestinal atrophy. Many recent findings suggest that gluten sensitivity could be a true autoimmune disease affecting any organ and any age of life, even in the absence of severe gastrointestinal involvement. Seropositivity for true autoantibodies, association with autoimmune diseases and the demonstration of cases of latent and potential cases of coeliac disease without major intestinal lesions are the most important recent features supporting this hypothesis.