Categorized: Celiac Disease Diagnosis

Are raised DGP-IgG levels an early sign of celiac disease?

Elevated DGP antibodies (and especially DGP-IgG) are often seen in patients with celiac disease on a gluten-containing diet. They appear to have approximately the same value of the tTG-IgA antibody test. However, it appears that in very young children (i.e., in the first two years of life) DGP-IgG do provide a better test for celiac… Read more »

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At what age should children get tested for celiac disease?

Generally, children at risk for celiac disease are screened at age 3 unless symptoms are seen beforehand. In children younger than 3, with symptoms, antibody testing is usually reliable, especially if it includes DGP-IgG. Children must be eating wheat or barley-based cereals for some time, up to several months, before they can generate an autoimmune… Read more »

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What does the term “potential celiac” mean?

A patient who is a “potential celiac” has positive serology (including the highly specific anti-Endomysium antibodies), possibly has symptoms, and has a negative biopsy. A potential celiac may or may not be put on a gluten-free diet, though we typically lean toward recommending the diet even in those potential celiacs who have no symptoms. Early… Read more »

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Can an Eating Disorder activate Celiac?

While an eating disorder could theoretically be the traumatic event triggering celiac, it is even more likely that celiac presented itself as an eating disorder, if this is of the anorexia type. Furthermore, there is evidence that celiac can be associated with eating disorders.

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Is there any connection between mesenteric lymphadenitis and celiac disease?

Mesenteric lymphadenitis. This condition is not seen more frequently in celiac patients than in the general population. If the condition were to occur as a result of celiac disease, the association should not persist once the gluten-free diet has been established for years. However, sometimes enlargement of lymphoid tissue in the terminal ileum can be… Read more »

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