• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Doctor Wants Universal Celiac Testing

Posted on: Monday, 1 May 2006, 21:00 CDT

Doctors are debating universal testing for celiac disease, a chronic intestinal disorder increasingly linked to type 1 diabetes.

While early diagnosis can improve lives and prevent intestinal damage, critics of the idea say the test is too costly and too invasive.

Celiac disease is a lifelong disorder that sickens people when they eat gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley. If left untreated, celiac disease can lead to serious complications, including fragile bones, cancer and even death from malnutrition, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

The disease affects an estimated one in 100 people in the general population but is increasingly being linked to people with the type 1 diabetes, the newspaper said.

At the American Diabetes Association's annual meeting in June, Dr. Jane Wray of Austin plans to push for new guidelines for doctors to screen all type 1 diabetics for celiac, the newspaper said.

Opponents say universal testing is too costly and too invasive and can be life-altering if the disease is confirmed before symptoms show up. They say they can't imagine telling children who don't appear sick that they can never eat bread, pizza, pasta or cookies again, the newspaper said

Source: United Press International

More News in this Category