The gliadin fraction of wheat gluten leads, in celiac disease, to autoimmune damage of the anatomy and function of the mucous membráně of the small intestine; at the samé time it leads to the production of blo-od-detectable antibodies against transglutaminase and gliadin. The prevalence of celiac disease is very high /1:100/. Non-identification of the disease, which occurs in 7 out of 8 cases, leads to impaired health and to malignant tumours, particularly lymphomas. Elimination of gluten from the diet results in normalization of the pathological findings without pharmacological intervention. The comparison of diagnostic expense and the consequent treatment makes celiac disease the most effectively treatable diagnosis in internal medicíně. In the article, an atypical čase of celiac disease in a young male is described.

        Key words: celiac disease, celiac sprue, gluten, malabsorption syndrome.