While the interest in celiac disease outside of Europe can be considered relatively recent and booming fast, especially in North America where an astonishingly sharp increase in followers of a gluten-free diet is seen, Italian physicians and scientists have been familiar with this condition for a long time. Indeed, the contributions made by Italian investigators to the advancement of our knowledge in celiac disease have been cutting-edge and outstanding in many regards: unraveling many patho-physiological aspects, detecting the ever-evolving spectrum of clinical manifestations, redefining its diagnostic guidelines.A\It is therefore no surprise that this agile book on celiac disease is authored by my colleagues and friends Prof. Bozzola and Prof. Maggiore.A\A thorough and critical update on the current knowledge on this unique autoimmune disease (exploring all of its many facets) is presented in a rigorous yet accessible style that is sure to meet the favor of residents and fellows alike. The booklet also includes a special focus on the frequently encountered and often puzzling problem of short stature (or stunted height gain) in the context of celiac disease. In fact, 15% of the almost 1,000 children in our Chicago Cellac Disease Center came to be diagnosed on the basis of failure to proper gain height, but in only half of them, was celiac disease the direct culprit. A clinically sound, effective approach to this problem is laid out, which will greatly benefit pediatricians and endocrinologists dealing with these children and often facing the dilemma of whether or not to start a treatment with GH.A\Thus, I am particularly happy to welcome this Italian-generated booklet in the family of the most updated, reliable educational tools available on our fascinating celiac disease, and am sure it will encounter the success it deserves in the wider online community!

Preface vii

Acknowledgments ix

Chapter 1 Spectrum of Gluten Intolerance: From Celiac Disease to :"Non-Celiac" Gluten Sensitivity 1

Chapter 2 Diagnostic Approach to Short Stature in Children with Celiac Disease 49

Index 77

中国医科院医学信息研究所