Can Celiac Disease Kill You?

A very small percentage of those with Celiac Disease develop what is known as "Refractory Celiac Disease" (RCD). And only a tiny number of those go on to develop cancer of the lymph cells.  Exact percentages for those developing refractory disease (RCD) are not known because it is so rare.  Since only 5% of those with Celiac Disease in the US know that they have the disease, there may be more undiscovered cases of RCD  out there.  What is known is that the percentage of cancer is very small.

Refractory Celiac Disese is diagnosed when a person with Celiac continues to have severe symptoms such as diarrhea and weight loss despite following a strict gluten-free diet.  There are two kinds of RCD - Type I and Type 2.  Type 1 is the most commonly occuring of this rare condition.  This type is treatable and does not go on to cause cancer of the lymphatic system.  The lymphatic system has cells which fight off infection. Type 2 is far more serious and can develop into cancer of the lymph cells.

In May 2011, Dr. Bakht Roshan and other researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston published a study looking at the incidence of cancer in CD.  What they found was very encouraging. Of the 29 patients in his study, only three developed cancer.  The study had only 29 subjects because RCD is so rare. 

On an even  more positive note, it has been observed by other researchers that the rate of breast cancer among Celiacs is less than the rate in the general population.  So, the good news is that only a very tiny number of Celiacs may develop cancer. Most Celiacs go on to live a happy, healthy and long, gluten-free life.