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Classification of Celiac Disease

The classification of celiac disease can be done in a number of ways depending on the factors that are taken into account.

Celiac disease is an auto-immune disease that is caused by the immune system attacking the lower intestine due to a gluten-induced sensitivity. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9-CM) has assigned a classification for Celiac Disease and the code is "579.0 celiac disease."

Classification of Celiac Disease

Another basis of classification of celiac disease is on the basis of the relationship between symptoms and blood test / biopsy findings. This gives a consistent method of showing this relationship. This classification od celiac disease was developed in order to group patients based on the symptome presented when examined by a doctor. It is divided into four groups:

            (a) Classical Celiac Disease: Classical classification of Celiac Disease is characterized by the symptoms of gastrointestinal malabsorption. The diagnosis is confirmed by biopsy that shows villous atrophy, by serological testing, and the patient's improvement after going on a gluten-free diet.

            (b) Celiac Disease with Atypical Symptoms:  Celiac Disease classification with Atypical Symptoms shows almost   no gastro-intestinal problems and other symptoms predominate. As the diagnosis process proceeds, atypical symptoms are the main presentation. Here too, like in the Classical case, diagnosis is confirmed by the biopsy showing villous atrophy, improvement when put on a gluten-free diet and by serological examinations.

            (c) Silent Celiac Disease: Silent Celiac Disease is characterized by no symptoms reminiscent of celiac disorder but the individual tests positive on the serological examination and show villous atrophy on a biopsy. The frightening thing about this classification of celiac disease is that the individual may be detected only during a screening of high-risk people or when a biopsy or endoscopy is performed on the patient for some other, unrelated reason.

            (d) Latent Celiac Disease: The Latent classification of Celiac Disease is diagnosed bythe presence of a positive serological examination but no villous atrophy on biopsy. The patient, in this case, does not show any symptoms but may soon develop histological changes and symptoms as the diease progresses.

The clinical classification of celiac disease is made on the basis of gastro-intestinal symptoms present. Active or classical celiac (also called Symptomatic celiac disease) to the presence of  diarrhea, with or without malabsorption. In Silent celiac disease (also called Asymptomatic celiac), gastrointestinal symptoms are totally absent or are not prominent but extra-intestinal symptoms are usually present. Most of the patients are found to have the silent classification of celiac diseae.