Coeliac disease, or gluten sensitive enteropathy is a common disorder and results from exposure to gluten in the diet of genetically susceptible individuals. Environmental factors may influence both the age of presentation and the severity of symptoms. Screening by quantifying anti-gliadin and anti-endomysial antibody titres and diagnosis by small intestinal biopsy are both straightforward. A gluten free diet produces clinical and symptomatic improvement and decreases the rate of complications, including gastrointestinal malignancy. Current research is likely to improve our understanding of the disease pathogenesis, the structure of the toxic cereal peptides, and the genetics of the condition.