Home Administrative Billing & Reimbursement BlueCard® Health and Wellness Medical PEAR portal Pharmacy Products Quality Management

Celiac disease: Information and resources for you and your patients

December 29, 2011

[

Celiac disease is a common autoimmune disorder that affects about 1 percent of the U.S. population; however, nearly 95 percent of people who have celiac disease remain undiagnosed.1

A diagnosis of celiac disease can be as simple as a blood test ordered by the patient?s health care provider.
Symptoms of celiac disease include:

  • bloating, gas, and/or abdominal pain
  • diarrhea or constipation
  • skin rash
  • unexplained weight loss
  • joint pain
  • missed menstrual periods
  • fertility issues and/or miscarriages
  • fatigue
  • anemia

If your patients present with unspecified abdominal issues or one or more of the above symptoms that cannot be otherwise explained, consider ordering a celiac sprue panel, including IgA tTG or IgA EMA.

For more information on celiac disease, visit www.celiaccentral.org. In addition, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness offers several continuing medical education (CME) activities to support the identification, diagnosis, and management of people who have celiac disease. More information on CME activities is available online at www.celiaccmecentral.com/accreditation_info.php .

1Source: Fasano A, et al. Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:286-292.

]

This content was prepared for the Provider News Center and may not be reproduced in any way without the express written permission of Independence Blue Cross. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
Connect with us     Facebook     Twitter     Flickr     YouTube     Walk the Talk    Independence Pinterest    Independence LinkedIn    Independence Instagram Site Map        Anti-Fraud        Privacy Policy        Legal        Disclaimer
© 2023 Independence Blue Cross.
Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, serving the health insurance needs of Philadelphia and southeastern Pennsylvania.