Celiac Network

Description

WHAT IS CELIAC DISEASE?

Celiac disease also called celiac disease or gluten sensitive enteropathy is an immune system reaction to consuming gluten.

WHAT IS GLUTEN?

It is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye, and all foods that contain them.

SYMPTOM

When someone has celiac disease, eating gluten triggers an immune response in the small intestine that over time damages the lining of the intestine and prevents nutrients from being absorbed In children this malabsorption can cause delayed growth and development in addition to the same symptoms as in adults.

At the digestive level we have the following:

• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Weight loss
• Bloating and gas
• Abdominal pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Constipation

However, more than half of celiac disease patients have signs and symptoms unrelated to the digestive system, including the following:

• Anemia, usually from iron deficiency
• Loss of bone density (osteoporosis) or bone softening (osteomalacia)
• Itchy, blistering rash (dermatitis herpetiformis)
• Mouth ulcers
• Headaches and fatigue

FAMILY PREVALENCE

The prevalence of the disease in the family close to an affection varies from 1 to 18%, and when it occurs, it is not associated with any of the classic symptoms, so the serological screening of relatives of a celiac affection is of huge utility. In most of the populations studied, 90-95% of patients with celiac disease are carriers of the HLA-DQ2 heterodimer. The rest of patients (5-10%) are carriers of the HLA-DQ8 heterodimer, Less than 5% of patients with celiac disease are not carriers of DQ2 or DQ8.

LABORATORY TECHNIQUE

We work with serological tests (GLIADIN ANTIBODIES IgA, ENDOMISIUM ANTIBODIES IgA, TRANSGLUTAMINASE ANTIBODIES IgA) and genetic tests using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), where we can detect the susceptible haplotypes (DQ2 and DQ8) of celiac disease.

WHEN IS THIS TEST PERFORMED?

The main indications are the following:

• Exclude genetic susceptibility in 1st degree relatives of a celiac patient.
• People with positive anti-endomysial or anti-transglutaminase antibodies, who reject the biopsy.
• In patients with diseases associated with Celiac Disease (IDDM, S. Down, Autoimmune Thyroid Disease ...) with positive antibodies and normal biopsies.
• Patients with mucosal lesion and negative or doubtful serology.
• Patients in whom gluten has been withdrawn without prior biopsy and who are asymptomatic.
• To exclude Celiac Disease in symptomatic patients with normal serology and biopsies.

TESTS INCLUDED

• GLIADINE ANTIBODIES IgA
• ENDOMISIUM ANTIBODIES IgA
• TRANSGLUTAMINASE ANTIBODIES IgA
• HLA DQ2-DQ8

PATIENT CONDITIONS

• Fasting is not necessary
• If the test is done to diagnose celiac disease, you will need to continue eating foods with gluten. Your doctor will give you instructions on how to prepare for the test.
• When the test is done to monitor celiac disease, no special preparation is required.

WHAT DOES THE TEST CONSIST OF?

 This test consists of taking a blood draw.

RESULTS

Results will be available in 5-7 business days.

I NEED A CELIAC NETWORK, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

To create a RED CELIAQUÍA ADVANCED profile:

• Comply with the PATIENT CONDITIONS.
• Come to our centers during the extraction hours.