What condition is characterized by an abnormal immune response to gluten?

Celiac disease is characterized by an abnormal immune response to gluten, which is a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. In individuals with celiac disease, the ingestion of gluten leads to inflammation and damage to the small intestine's mucosa, resulting in malabsorption of nutrients and a variety of gastrointestinal and extra-intestinal symptoms. The immune system mistakenly identifies gluten as harmful, triggering an autoimmune response that affects the intestinal lining.

This disease can manifest with symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloating, weight loss, and fatigue. Long-term exposure to gluten in affected individuals can lead to serious complications, including nutritional deficiencies, osteoporosis, and even an increased risk of certain malignancies.

Other options listed do not primarily involve an immune response to gluten. Inflammatory bowel disease, for instance, refers to chronic conditions like Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis that involve a different kind of immune response affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Chronic pancreatitis pertains to inflammation of the pancreas, while gastric reflux disease deals with the backflow of stomach contents into the esophagus, neither of which are related to gluten sensitivity or celiac disease. Therefore, celiac disease is specifically defined by its direct link to gluten and the consequent immune response.