TalkImproving Diagnosis of Celiac Disease
In July, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) held a Celiac Disease Awareness Campaign to tell the public about this disease that affects an estimated 1 percent of all Americans. Lisa’s previous post gives a summary of the symptoms of celiac disease and coping strategies.
The main message is this: people with celiac disease exhibit an autoimmune response to gluten, which is a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. There are both genetic and non-genetic (environmental) factors involved in acquiring celiac disease, evidenced by the fact that 70% of identical twins both have celiac disease (since the concordance is not 100%, it is known that there are environmental factors involved as well). According to some gastroenterologists, first-degree relatives of someone with celiac disease are recommended to get endomysial antibody blood tests.
The campaign is picking up again this October, which is the official Celiac Awareness Month and is hosted by the Celiac Sprue Association (CSA). One main goal of the CSA is to advocate for early diagnosis among physicians and healthcare professionals.
- Learn more about the Gluten-Free Lifestyle.
- Join in the awareness and advocacy effort by writing a letter to a food manufacturer explaining the need for expanded ingredient labeling.
- “Celiac disease is far more common than thought” (February 2003, University of Chicago Hospitals)
Technorati Tags: celiac disease, celiac sprue, awareness month, treatment, environmental factors, genes, family history
