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'Celiac Disease: A Hidden Epidemic', By Peter H.R. Green, M.D. And Rory Jones is First and Only Authoritative Guide on the Disorder

Posted on: Monday, 6 February 2006, 09:00 CST

NEW YORK, Feb. 6 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Celiac disease strikes three million people in the U.S. -- more than multiple sclerosis or crohn's disease -- yet 97 percent are undiagnosed due to poor awareness. Lack of treatment can result in type 1 diabetes, thyroid disease, lupus, liver disease, infertility, and cancer.

CELIAC DISEASE: A Hidden Epidemic (Collins Books; On-Sale Feb 7, 2006; ISBN: 006076693X ; Hardcover, $22.95) is the first and only authoritative guide to this serious autoimmune disease. As co- author Dr. Peter Green explains "celiac disease has been dubbed the 'great pretender.' Its symptoms can easily masquerade as a number of other illnesses...and it is those conditions that are often diagnosed instead of celiac disease. The one thing most patients have in common is a long road to diagnosis." While celiac disease is well known in Europe and other areas, in the United States it has long been ignored by many in the medical profession -- prompting The Wall Street Journal to recently note that "the story of celiac disease shows how blind spots can develop in the U.S. medical system" (12/9/05).

Three million Americans have celiac disease, but most don't know they are carrying this genetic autoimmune condition that if left untreated, can lead to serious health consequences including type 1 diabetes, thyroid disease, lupus, liver disease, infertility and cancer. Despite these risks, only 3 percent of people with the disease are being treated and most of those suffer an average of 11 years before the condition is correctly diagnosed. Why? Despite its prevalence, physicians and the general public are relatively unaware of celiac disease. The variety of symptoms, combined with lack of awareness, often lead to misdiagnosis or no diagnosis, with serious health consequences for millions.

Celiac disease is a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients. People who have celiac disease cannot tolerate gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley. When people with celiac disease eat foods containing gluten, their immune system responds by damaging the small intestine causing malabsorption -- regardless of how much food they may eat.

Celiac disease is hereditary, and can develop at any age. The challenge in diagnosing celiac disease is that it affects each person differently and symptoms can be similar to those of other diseases. Symptoms and conditions may include recurrent abdominal bloating and pain, chronic diarrhea, constipation, weight loss, bone or joint pain, fatigue, depression or irritability, seizures, osteoporosis, tingling or numbness in the hands or legs, anemia, or an itchy blistery skin rash called dermatitis herpertiformis. In children it can present itself as failure to thrive, tooth discoloration or loss of enamel, short stature, or delayed growth or development.

You may be thinking "but I've never even heard of celiac disease." That's the reaction most Americans have, including those of us who have it, and many in the medical community. Because celiac disease is "the disease of a thousand disguises," sufferers typically see a succession of physicians and specialists before discovering their real problem. And that's tragic, because when it remains untreated, its symptoms can worsen and new ones can develop. Yet this disease is extremely treatable. By eliminating gluten from their diet, people with celiac disease can become free of symptoms.

Prevalence is Underestimated

Comparison of the prevalence of celiac disease and other well- known conditions:

Celiac Disease affects 3 million Americans

Epilepsy affects 2.8 million Americans

Ulcerative Colitis affects 500,000 Americans

Crohn's Disease affects 500,000 Americans

Multiple Sclerosis affects 333,000 Americans

Cystic Fibrosis affects 30,000 Americans

(Source: National Institutes of Health)

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Advancing Science and Public Awareness:

The Celiac Disease Center was established within the Department of Medicine at Columbia University in 2001, Its mission: to redefine the future of celiac disease and treatment on an ongoing basis, through continuing advances in biomedical research, patient care, and physician and public education. Under the guidance of Peter Green, MD, one of a few recognized experts on celiac disease in the United States, the Center has become world-renowned for its services and programs and is one of the first medical school supported centers in the United States dedicated to the treatment and study of celiac disease. The Celiac Disease Center at Columbia University is the only center in the United States that provides comprehensive medical care, including nutrition, for adult and pediatric patients with celiac disease. ALL of the Center's research is into celiac disease- clinical epidemiology, and mechanisms of celiac disease and patient and physician education. The Center is diagnosing and treating more than 2000 patients annually from around the world.

November 9-11, 2006, the Center will host the XII International Celiac Disease Symposium at the Hilton NY Hotel. The symposium is expected to attract healthcare industry leaders, clinicians, scientists, policy makers, patients and journalists and will touch on every aspect of adult and pediatric celiac disease -- diagnosis, treatment, science and public policy and has emerged as the single most important forum for bringing together the world leaders who will determine the nature of celiac disease and its impact on patients around the globe.

"Because there's a lack of knowledge about the disease and its symptoms in the U.S., people are put at risk and suffer for years prior to a correct diagnosis," says Dr. Peter Green. "We need to educate both the medical and general communities about the signs of the disease, which are more diverse than previously thought. Early diagnosis and treating the condition with a gluten-free diet can minimize the devastating effects celiac disease can have if left untreated. In the last two years, we have published 24 articles in the medical literature, both original research articles as well as invited review articles. We think this is the most effective way to increase the profile and knowledge base of physicians about celiac disease. This is one of the major contributions of the Celiac Center because it is through the increased diagnosis of patients that general support of people who have celiac disease will be increased." For more information, visit http:// www.celiacdiseasecenter.org .

http://www.usnewswire.com

Source: U.S. Newswire

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