Refractory Celiac Disease and Nonresponsive Celiac Disease
In some cases, the intestinal injury caused by celiac disease may not show improvement after going on a strict gluten-free diet. This is known as refractory celiac disease. Patients that experience signs and symptoms after following a strict gluten-free diet for six months should see a doctor for more testing or diagnosis.
Some people with celiac disease still see symptoms after staying away from gluten for a long time. This is called nonresponsive celiac disease. This mostly occurs because the gut has been contaminated with gluten. It is important to seek help from a dietician to learn how to stay away from every form of gluten.
Patients with nonresponsive celiac disease may experience symptoms like:
- Microscopic colitis
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Difficulty digesting sugar seen in dairy products (lactose), table sugar (sucrose), or a type of sugar seen in honey and fruits (fructose)
- Bacteria in the small intestine (bacterial overgrowth)
- Poor pancreas function (pancreatic insufficiency)