A Role for Bacteria in Celiac Disease? : Official journal of the American College of Gastroenterology | ACG (original) (raw)

ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS: Editorial

Rikshospitalet and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway (Sollid)

Stanford University Medical Center, Stanford, California (Gray)

Reprint requests and correspondence: Ludvig M. Sollid, M.D., Institute of Immunology, University of Oslo, Rikshopitalet, N-0027 Oslo, Norway.

Received December 30, 2003; accepted January 6, 2004.

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Abstract

The finding of rod-shaped bacteria attached to the small intestinal epithelium of some untreated and treated celiac-disease patients, but not to the epithelium of healthy controls, ignites the notion that bacteria may be involved in the pathogenesis of celiac disease. This editorial discusses this possibility in relation to the current understanding of the molecular basis of this disorder.

© The American College of Gastroenterology 2004. All Rights Reserved.