Book excerpt: Remarkable progress has been made in our knowledge of celiac disease, yet the diagnosis is often overlooked. The practical challenge for healthcare professionals is to identify the disease and offer patients a gluten-free diet that will restore most to full health and help to prevent further complications. This comprehensively revised second edition of 'Fast Facts: Celiac Disease', written by three international experts, considers: • Celiac disease in all its forms - typical, atypical, silent, potential and latent • Gluten sensitivity, genetic risk and predisposing physiological abnormalities • The variable presentation of disease in both adults and children • Associated immune disorders • The puzzle of diagnosis, solved by clinical, serological, histological and genetic investigation • Troublesome, and sometimes life-threatening, non-malignant complications • The close links between celiac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis • The risk of malignancy, its treatment and prognosis • Management with a gluten-free diet, and the emotional and social implications of the diet • Potential new therapies Highly readable with informative illustrations, 'Fast Facts: Celiac Disease' provides an up-to-date account of this common yet easily missed condition. It is an excellent clinical resource for the primary care team, gastroenterologists in training and anyone who wants to know more about this challenging disease. Contents: • Definition • Epidemiology • Pathophysiology • Clinical manifestations • Diagnosis • Non-malignant complications • Dermatitis herpetiformis • Malignant complications • Management • Future trends • Useful resources