Sample Disease Research Paper
Celiac Disease
Etiology:
The exact cause of celiac (coeliac disease, celiac disease or celiac sprue) is still not fully understood. The majority of those with Celiac have one of two types of a protein called HLA-DQ, they will have either DQ2 or DQ8, which is inherited in families. The reason these genes make the person more at risk of the disease is that the receptors formed by the genes bind to gliadin peptides more tightly and are more likely to activate and initiate the autoimmune process. Celiac is an autoimmune disease, NOT an allergy. The misconception that it is a wheat allergy is due to the trigger being linked to a food component, Gluten. This disorder affects approximately 1 in 33 people in the United States. Celiac Disease can present at any time in a person’s life. It can be triggered by viral infection, (one theory linked an onset with a previous case of Adenovirus or rotavirus) surgery, pregnancy, childbirth or emotional stress. When people with celiac consume gluten (even in minuet particles) the villi in the small intestine are damaged. This is the autoimmune reaction to the gluten, it triggers a specific antigen to the food-grain (a toxic amino acid sequence).The damaged villi do not work properly; they are unable to absorb basic nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals.
If celiac is not treated chronic and life threatening damage can be done to the small bowel, increasing the risk of associated nutritional and immune disorders.
Celiac can present externally as well in Dermatitis Herpetiformis. This is when there are blisters present on the skin and chronically itchy skin, most commonly found in the face, knees, elbows and buttocks.
These patients can also have small bowel issues with gluten, (85%) even though they do not show the gastrointestinal symptoms; everyone diagnosed with DH is advised to follow a gluten free diet.
Risk factors:
If left untreated there are many long-term conditions that can result
Etiology:
The exact cause of celiac (coeliac disease, celiac disease or celiac sprue) is still not fully understood. The majority of those with Celiac have one of two types of a protein called HLA-DQ, they will have either DQ2 or DQ8, which is inherited in families. The reason these genes make the person more at risk of the disease is that the receptors formed by the genes bind to gliadin peptides more tightly and are more likely to activate and initiate the autoimmune process. Celiac is an autoimmune disease, NOT an allergy. The misconception that it is a wheat allergy is due to the trigger being linked to a food component, Gluten. This disorder affects approximately 1 in 33 people in the United States. Celiac Disease can present at any time in a person’s life. It can be triggered by viral infection, (one theory linked an onset with a previous case of Adenovirus or rotavirus) surgery, pregnancy, childbirth or emotional stress. When people with celiac consume gluten (even in minuet particles) the villi in the small intestine are damaged. This is the autoimmune reaction to the gluten, it triggers a specific antigen to the food-grain (a toxic amino acid sequence).The damaged villi do not work properly; they are unable to absorb basic nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals.
If celiac is not treated chronic and life threatening damage can be done to the small bowel, increasing the risk of associated nutritional and immune disorders.
Celiac can present externally as well in Dermatitis Herpetiformis. This is when there are blisters present on the skin and chronically itchy skin, most commonly found in the face, knees, elbows and buttocks.
These patients can also have small bowel issues with gluten, (85%) even though they do not show the gastrointestinal symptoms; everyone diagnosed with DH is advised to follow a gluten free diet.
Risk factors:
If left untreated there are many long-term conditions that can result
References: Van Heel D, West J (2006). "Recent advances in coeliac disease". Gut 55 (7): 1037–46. doi:10.1136/gut.2005.075119 National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Clinical guideline 61: Irritable bowel syndrome. London, 2008. Kagnoff M, Paterson Y, Kumar P, Kasarda D, Carbone F, Unsworth D, Austin R (1987). "Evidence for the role of a human intestinal adenovirus in the pathogenesis of coeliac disease" (PDF). Gut 28 (8): 995–1001. Catassi, Carlo (2005). "Where Is Celiac Disease Coming From and Why?". Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition 40 (3): 279. Celiac Disease Awareness Campaign from the National Institutes of Health