Recognition, assessment, and management of coeliac disease: summary of updated NICE guidance

Abstract

#### The bottom line #### How patients were involved in the creation of this article Committee members involved in this guideline included lay members who contributed to the formulation of the recommendations summarised here. Coeliac disease is a common autoimmune condition, in which the ingestion of gluten (present in wheat, barley, and rye) activates an abnormal immune response, leading to chronic inflammation of the small intestine and malabsorption of nutrients. It affects about 1% of the UK population.1 Coeliac disease can present with a wide range of clinical features, although some people initially experience few or no symptoms. Treatment involves a lifelong gluten-free diet because untreated disease can lead to serious long term health complications. First degree relatives of a person with the disease and people with other conditions (including type 1 diabetes and Down’s syndrome) are at higher risk of having coeliac disease. This article summarises the recently updated recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) on the recognition, assessment, and management of coeliac disease.2 NICE recommendations are based on systematic reviews of the best available evidence and explicit consideration of cost effectiveness. When minimal evidence is available, recommendations are based on the Guideline Development Group’s experience …