Didn't know Celiac was a possibility

[Trek420]

Blood tests are pretty unreliable, small intestine biopsy (not colonoscopy) can give a false negative if they just happen to miss the patch with the flattened villi in the small intestine. If you're one of the lucky people who gets a rash from eating wheat they can biopsy the rash instead. If you have "geographical tongue" which is patches of flattened taste buds that is caused by celiac disease but can't be used as a test. They won't biopsy your tongue.

The only really reliable test is the genetic one.

[OakLeaf]

This week's New England Journal of Medicine has a practice article about differential diagnosis of celiac disease. You MAY be able to access it for free if you download the iPad app (though last I tried, issues didn't post there for free until a week after they were posted on the Web); otherwise, a 24-hour pass is $15, if you're interested.

"Key clinical points" are summarized at the end of the free abstract:

• Once considered a gastrointestinal disorder that mainly affects white children, celiac disease is now known to affect persons of different ages, races, and ethnic groups, and it may be manifested without any gastrointestinal symptoms.

• Measurement of IgA anti–tissue transglutaminase antibodies is the preferred initial screening test for celiac disease because of its high sensitivity and specificity, but it performs poorly in patients with IgA deficiency (which is more common in patients with celiac disease than in the general population).

• The diagnosis is confirmed by means of upper endoscopy with duodenal biopsy, although recent guidelines suggest that biopsy may not be necessary in selected children with strong clinical and serologic evidence of celiac disease.

• Given the undisputable role of gluten in causing celiac disease enteropathy, the cornerstone of treatment is the implementation of a strict gluten-free diet for life.

• Gluten sensitivity may occur in the absence of celiac disease, and a definitive diagnosis should be made before implementing a lifelong gluten-free diet.

http://www.nejm.org/action/showImage...113994&iid=f01

[Kerry1976]

My grandmother was misdiagnosed with Celiac for nearly five years, all the while eating gluten free and still having horrible gut issues. Definitely work so an expert. I have Hashimotos disease and eat GF as I am sensitive. As was said earlier, There are so many great options and ways to eat GF and eat well.