The Rheumatologist
COVID-19 NewsACR Convergence
  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed
  • Home
  • Conditions
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • SLE (Lupus)
    • Crystal Arthritis
      • Gout Resource Center
    • Spondyloarthritis
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Soft Tissue Pain
    • Scleroderma
    • Vasculitis
    • Systemic Inflammatory Syndromes
    • Guidelines
  • Resource Centers
    • Axial Spondyloarthritis Resource Center
    • Gout Resource Center
    • Psoriatic Arthritis Resource Center
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
  • Drug Updates
    • Biologics & Biosimilars
    • DMARDs & Immunosuppressives
    • Topical Drugs
    • Analgesics
    • Safety
    • Pharma Co. News
  • Professional Topics
    • Ethics
    • Legal
    • Legislation & Advocacy
    • Career Development
      • Certification
      • Education & Training
    • Awards
    • Profiles
    • President’s Perspective
    • Rheuminations
    • Interprofessional Perspective
  • Practice Management
    • Billing/Coding
    • Quality Assurance/Improvement
    • Workforce
    • Facility
    • Patient Perspective
    • Electronic Health Records
    • Apps
    • Information Technology
    • From the College
    • Multimedia
      • Audio
      • Video
  • Resources
    • Issue Archives
    • ACR Convergence
      • Gout Resource Center
      • Axial Spondyloarthritis Resource Center
      • Psoriatic Arthritis
      • Abstracts
      • Meeting Reports
      • ACR Convergence Home
    • American College of Rheumatology
    • ACR ExamRheum
    • Research Reviews
    • ACR Journals
      • Arthritis & Rheumatology
      • Arthritis Care & Research
      • ACR Open Rheumatology
    • Rheumatology Image Library
    • Treatment Guidelines
    • Rheumatology Research Foundation
    • Events
  • About Us
    • Mission/Vision
    • Meet the Authors
    • Meet the Editors
    • Contribute to The Rheumatologist
    • Subscription
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Search
You are here: Home / Articles / Diagnostic Tests, Tips for Gluten-Induced Celiac Disease

Diagnostic Tests, Tips for Gluten-Induced Celiac Disease

June 13, 2016 • By Thomas R. Collins

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version / Save PDF
Tefi/shutterstock.com

Tefi/shutterstock.com

CHICAGO—Celiac disease—the gluten-induced illness that can be seen alongside rheumatic diseases—has been seen much more commonly over the past 20 years than it was previously, but the illness can come with questions that are not always straightforward, an expert said at the ACR’s State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium.

You Might Also Like
  • Non-Celiac Wheat Sensitivity Is an Immune Disorder, Too
  • The Role of T Cells in Celiac Disease
  • Celiac Disease in Pediatric Patients
Explore This Issue
June 2016
Also By This Author
  • Year in Review: Expert Covers 2017’s Key Clinical Findings

The disease, in which the small intestine becomes inflamed in genetically predisposed people and resolves when they stop eating gluten, used to be thought of as a very rare disorder typically seen in infancy and almost unheard of in North America, said Joseph Murray, MD, professor of gastroenterology at the Mayo Clinic.

ad goes here:advert-1
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

The disease now manifests in both adults and children, occurs around the world, shows itself in a variety of ways and is no longer thought to be so rare in the U.S. For example, in Olmsted County, Minn., the county in which the Mayo Clinic is located, the incidence of celiac disease went from close to zero in the 1950s to between 15 and 20 per 100,000 person-years, where it has plateaued for a couple of decades, Dr. Murray said.

“It stayed at a level that’s about 20 times higher than what it was prior,” he said.

ad goes here:advert-2
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

According to a study based on data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, about 1.8 million people in the U.S. have celiac disease, although most are undiagnosed and are not on a gluten-free diet, he said. A similar number of people, interestingly, are on a gluten-free diet, but do not have celiac disease.

Dr. Murray

Dr. Murray

“The irony is, those who have celiac disease are not diagnosed, most of them, even though they would probably benefit from being on a gluten-free diet; whereas, those who are on a gluten-free diet without the diagnosis—it’s uncertain that they even need or benefit from the diet,” Dr. Murray said.

About a quarter of cases present as classic malabsorptive syndrome, with such symptoms as diarrhea, steatorrhea, weight loss and other problems. About half present as mono-symptomatic, with anemia, diarrhea, lactose intolerance or some other symptom. Another quarter of the patients present with a non-gastrointestinal problem, such as infertility, bone disease, neurological disease, shortness of stature or brittle diabetes.

ad goes here:advert-3
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Rheumatic diseases in which celiac disease is seen include inflammatory myositis, sarcoidosis, juvenile arthritis and primary Sjögren’s syndrome. Some patients also develop a fibromyalgia-like disorder, Dr. Murray said.

A frequent misconception is that a positive HLA finding means that someone has the disease.

Diagnosis

A celiac serology test is used for initial detection and as an adjunct to diagnosis, but the gold standard for diagnosis is villous atrophy, or a flat-appearing pathology, with chronic inflammation, in the proximal small intestine while on a gluten-containing diet.

Pages: 1 2 3 | Single Page

Filed Under: Conditions, Systemic Inflammatory Syndromes Tagged With: 2016 State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium, AC&R, American College of Rheumatology, celiac disease, gastrointestinal, gluten, intestine, patient care, Research, Rheumatic Disease, rheumatologist, rheumatology, Test, TreatmentIssue: June 2016

You Might Also Like:
  • Non-Celiac Wheat Sensitivity Is an Immune Disorder, Too
  • The Role of T Cells in Celiac Disease
  • Celiac Disease in Pediatric Patients
  • Celiac Awareness Makes a Difference for Rheumatology Patients

Rheumatology Research Foundation

The Foundation is the largest private funding source for rheumatology research and training in the U.S.

Learn more »

ACR Convergence

Don’t miss rheumatology’s premier scientific meeting for anyone involved in research or the delivery of rheumatologic care or services.

Visit the ACR Convergence site »

Meeting Abstracts

Browse and search abstracts from the ACR Convergence and ACR/ARP Annual Meetings going back to 2012.

Visit the Abstracts site »

The Rheumatologist newsmagazine reports on issues and trends in the management and treatment of rheumatic diseases. The Rheumatologist reaches 11,500 rheumatologists, internists, orthopedic surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who practice, research, or teach in the field of rheumatology.

About Us / Contact Us / Advertise / Privacy Policy / Terms of Use / Cookie Preferences

  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed

Copyright © 2006–2023 American College of Rheumatology. All rights reserved.

ISSN 1931-3268 (print)
ISSN 1931-3209 (online)