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
.