Celiac Disease for Health Care Providers EP031

Celiac disease is grossly underdiagnosed in the United States in large part because the medical community is operating on outdated information about the condition. And despite the recommendations of the National Institute of Health back in 2004, we have yet to implement a mass screening for celiac disease, and health care providers remain alarmingly uninformed.

The Gluten Free RN is taking steps to remedy the situation by sharing the basics for medical professionals. Today she covers the WHO’s definition of celiac disease, how our understanding of the condition has change over time, and some common misconceptions about celiac disease. She also explains the top symptoms, recommended testing for celiac disease and gluten sensitivity, and the neurological nature of the disorder.

Listen in to learn what health care providers need to know about this undiagnosed epidemic, the complex web of health issues that may result from undiagnosed celiac disease, and why it is important to have a high index of suspicion and include celiac testing on every differential diagnosis. Help your patients go gluten-free and collect something other than autoimmune disorders!

What’s Discussed:

The standard of care in the US

• Providers should have diagnosed at least 1% of patients with celiac disease
• Undiagnosed for 70 years, must overcome to prevent further pain and suffering

The goals of Nadine’s consulting business

• Works with facilities to protect celiac patients
• Ensure compliance with ADA

How the media portrays the gluten-free lifestyle

• Dissuades people from adopting diet (program sponsors influence messaging)
• Negative headlines

How our understanding of celiac disease has changed over time

The recommendations of the 2004 NIH consensus meeting regarding celiac disease

• Mass screening (meets WHO criteria)
• Education for health care providers

The World Health Organization criteria for mass screening

• Early clinical detection essential
• Condition is common
• Screening tests highly sensitive and specific
• Effective treatment available
• Untreated condition leads to complications

The autoimmune disorders associated with undiagnosed celiac disease

• MS
• Type 1 diabetes
• Lupus
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Sjögren’s
• Vitiligo

The WHO definition of celiac disease

• Characterized by hypersensitivity to gluten
• Prevalence currently estimated at 1:1,000 worldwide
• Screening trials suggest prevalence of 1:100
• Results in weight loss, diarrhea, nutritional deficiencies
• Caused by villous atrophy
• May present as extraintestinal manifestations or remain clinically silent

Why celiac disease can’t be ruled out with a single test

• Can be triggered at any point
• HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8 genes indicate genetic predisposition

Misconceptions about celiac disease in the US medical community

• Thought to be digestive disorder, but really neurological
• Can present with seizures, numbness, constipation, balance issues, celiac cerebellar ataxia

How skin issues are a reflection of what is going on internally

• Epithelial skin is same tissue as inside

How damage to the small intestine leads to multiple health issues

• Increased permeability of intestinal wall
• Leaky blood brain barrier
• Leaky blood vessels
• Leaky lungs and skin

The classic symptoms of celiac disease

• Chronic diarrhea
• Malabsorption
• Extreme weight loss
• Malnutrition

What celiac disease looks like in children

• Diarrhea, constipation
• General abdominal pain
• Failure to thrive
• Falling off growth chart
• Short stature
• Learning disabilities
• ADD, ADHD, ODD
• Autism
• Skin issues (eczema, cirrhosis, acne)
• Delayed puberty
• Dental problems
• Anorexia, obesity
• Bed wetting

The prevalence of celiac disease in older adults

• 30% of people diagnosed with celiac disease are over 60

Potential signs of celiac disease in the aging population

• Dementia
• Alzheimer’s
• Vision, hearing loss
• Urinary problems
• Cancer diagnosis (especially bowel cancer)
• Ataxia
• Arthritis
• Hair loss
• Fatigue
• Osteoporosis
• Anemia

The elements that get into your blood stream as a result of villous atrophy

• Toxins
• Heavy metals
• Undigested food particles
• Yeast, fungus
• Parasites, other harmful bacteria