In a recent study (via medpage Today) by Christopher Hammerle, MD, and Sheila Crowe, MD, of the University of Virginia, it is believed that more patients with celiac disease may have refractory celiac disease, which means their bodies stop responding to the gluten-free diet.  It is thought that refractory celiac disease is on the rise and is caused by celiac patients not strictly following the gluten-free diet.

Two of the treatments of choice for refractory celiac disease are corticosteroids and thiopurine. The corticosteroids run the risk of a steroid dependence while the thiorpurine has a better record.

Non-compliance is really the same thing as being untreated — and untreated celiac disease can not only be the cause of severe discomfort, it can lead to serious illness and even death. Keep this in mind the next time you think about cheating on your diet. Those thoughts alone are enough to keep me away from temptation.