primary prevention of coeliac disease - Associazione Italiana ...

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risk factors that can trigger the onset of CD, particularly infant feeding, is discussed in
detail. Finally, new strategies of treatment, based on either the introduction of
genetically detoxified grains or induction of oral tolerance to gluten, are presented. The
reader will appreciate that the “holy grail” for a possible coeliac cure is still far away.
Biochemically speaking, the complexity of gluten toxicity is disarming. Furthermore,
the lack of an animal model of disease greatly hampers the investigations on the CD
pathophysiology at the mucosal level. In spite of these problems, the route has been
traced and primary prevention of CD should not be considered an utopia anymore at the
beginning of the third millennium. We hope that this volume will stimulate researchers
and clinicians alike to pursue this goal.
We express our gratitude to all speakers and chairmen at the Pavia meeting, and to
the academic authorities of the University of Pavia. We gratefully acknowledge the
support of the AIC National Board, particularly of Ing. Spinelli, who was one of the
promoters of this meeting that unfortunately passed away. The publication of this
volume would not have been possible without the expertise of the AIC Editorial Board,
particularly of Dr. Franco Lucchesi and Ms. Giusy Cappellotto. We also thank Dr.
Elisabetta Fabiani for her valuable help with several aspects of this book.
C. Catassi A. Fasano G.R. Corazza