What is refractory celiac disease?
Refractory celiac disease is a rare condition in which the symptoms of celiac disease (and the loss of villi) do not improve despite many months of a strict gluten free diet. Before making a diagnosis of refractory celiac disease it is important to exclude complications of celiac disease and other co-existing conditions that can produce similar symptoms. It is believed by many knowledgeable physicians that refractory celiac disease is a malignant condition, that is, it is a cancer. What is the treatment for refractory celiac disease? The treatment of refractory celiac disease is first to make sure that all gluten is eliminated from the diet. If there still is no improvement, medications are used. • Corticosteroids such as prednisone have been used successfully in treating some patients with refractory celiac disease. • Immuno-suppressive drugs (medications that suppress a person’s immune system) such as azathioprine (Imuran, Azasan) and cyclosporine also have been used. (These drugs al
