Celiac disease commonly misdiagnosed

Bonnie - I was delighted to see a recent article in USA Today discussing the prevalence of Celiac Disease in Americans. In fact, the National Institutes of Health launched the Celiac Disease Awareness Campaign this summer to educate physicians and the public about the disease, its symptoms, and how it can be detected.

While the NIH believes that one in every 133 Americans has celiac, we feel that may be a modest assessment.

What we do know is that, according to one study, it can take an average of 11 years for patients to receive a diagnosis. People with celiac have higher rates of osteoporosis, certain cancers and infertility. If a family member tests positive, other family members should be tested as well.

One way the NIH suggests testing for celiac are with specific blood tests. However, false negatives are possible. A biopsy of the small intestine is considered the gold standard for diagnosis. A gluten elimination diet is also effective, but difficult to follow for three months.