Diagnosing Celiac Disease
“Celiac disease is a an autoimmune disorder that causes damage to the small intestine, which can lead to malabsorption of nutrients. A genetic intolerance to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley, triggers this destructive reaction of the immune system”, according to Dr. Peter Green of Columbia University Medical Center, and one of the premier celiac specialists in the world. Like diabetes, it is an autoimmune disorder, not a food allergy that people grow out of.
Celiac disease is considered a multi-organ system disease, with a variety of symptoms and is particularly challenging to diagnose. According to Dr. Green, the following blood tests aid in the diagnosis of of celiac disease:
- Anti-gliadin antibodies (AGA) both IgA and IgG
- Anti-endomysial antibodies (EMA) - IgA
- Anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTG) - IgA
- Total IgA level.
For test results to be accurate, a person must be consuming gluten, as these tests determine if you are a having an immune response to it. The simple blood tests above can be ordered by any internist. If your doctor won’t order the test, find one that will.
Celiac is currently one of the most under-diagnosed diseases in the country, according to the National Instititues of Health (NIH). Some docs estimate that 1% of the US population has this disease. There is currently no cure for celiac disease; a gluten-free diet is the treatment.
Never miss a recipe!
Subscribe by Email to elanaspantry.com:Posted on April 17, 2007 in celiac and health by Elana
you might also like: looking at the rest of my recipes
print this
• email this
• bookmark this • add RSS feed • 2 comments
Found my way here thru your food photos on flickr. Your website is gorgeous and full of information. My 19 year old son was recently diagnosed (finally!) so I am gathering all of the info and resources that I can.
Thanks so much,
Marci
January 25th, 2008 5:56 am
I would like to know how the increasing number of Celiac disease suffering people in the world is connected to the growing use of genetically modified organisms in modern agriculture. In japan many people started to get ill on a soja (soy) “allergy” - after the country was flooded with genetically modified soja. This allergy never was known before.
Many new illnesses are reported from heavy-usage gmo zones like parts in china and south America- there are many strange “allergies” and there is everywhere the same companion to these new plagues - it is the use of GMO crops.
As there is only a very, very little number of scientists working *independently* on these topics, not much information on these fields of science is generated or disclosed - there is much more work to be done here. We should start now as this work has to be done for the safety of following generations. The GMO industry is changing the foundations of life now and forever. We must take action now.
April 6th, 2008 2:05 pm