Celiac Disease |
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National Foundation for Celia Awareness is offering a 1.5 credit CME course for health-care professionals on Celiac Disease. Click here to get more info. To learn more about the recently published multi-center prevalence study of celiac disease visit, www.celiaccenter.org. Symptoms Most physicians recognize the classic symptoms of celiac disease : diarrhea, bloating, weight loss, anemia, chronic fatigue, weakness, bone pain, and muscle cramps. Physicians may not be aware that celiac disease frequently presents with other symptoms, some that do not involve the small intestine. More often, symptoms can include constipation, constipation alternating with diarrhea, or premature osteoporosis. Overweight persons may also have undiagnosed celiac disease. Children may exhibit behavioral, learning or concentration problems, irritability, diarrhea, bloated abdomen, growth failure, dental enamel defects, or projectile vomiting. Others will have symptoms such as rheumatoid conditions, chronic anemia, chronic fatigue, weakness, migraine headaches, nerve problems such as tingling of hands or difficulty walking, or other conditions that are unexplained and/or do not respond to usual treatment. People may have one or more of the above symptoms or none of them. Patients are frequently misdiagnosed as having 'irritable bowel syndrome', 'spastic colon/bowel', or Crohn's disease'. This description is provided by GIG. Diagnosis Genetic - A non-invasive genetic test can be taken which will show if you have the genetic pattern normallyseen in patients with CD/DH - it is believed that this pattern must be present for an individual to have GSE, CD and/or DH. Individuals with GSE and continuing to consume gluten may be at risk to develop CD/DH. Biopsy - As a final test, your physician may refer you to a gastroenterologist who will perform an endoscopy. In this procedure, a series of samples or tissue biopsies are taken from your small intestine. They will be reviewed by a lab under a microsope to look for damage villi. Traditionally, a biopsy showing damaged villi in the small intestine is the first half of the 'Gold Standard' to diagnosing CD. Some physicians are beginning to accept a positivie result from the blood test alone and consequent improvement on the GF diet as a solid diagnosis. It is possible, in some situations, to have "normal" blood tests and/or biopsy via endoscopy and still have celiac disease. Treatment Questions to Ask Your Doctor:
Prognosis Related Disorders Other conditions frequently seen in persons with gluten intolerance include anemia, early bone disease, Downs Syndrome, and fertility problems. Some persons with DH also have a higher incidence of other skin conditions, such as eczema. While other connections have been suggested - such as with autism, MS, and mycosis fungoides, the research is either inconclusive, suggests a weak connection or offers no substantial connection. As knowledge of gluten intolerance diseases expands and new findings become available, you can expect that the list of associated health problems and conditions will also change. |
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