01/10/2009

Anthony Harnden,Richard Lehman, BMJ

Easily missed?
Although patients with coeliac disease present with diarrhoea, weight loss, and anaemia, they may also present with extraintestinal symptoms, particularly adults, and the disease is much more common than previously believed.

How common is it?
*1% prevalence in general Western populations (possibly higher in Western Europe and Scandinavia)
*3-6% prevalence in type I diabetes
*5-10% prevalence in first degree relatives
*10-15% prevalence in symptomatic iron deficiency anaemia
*3-6% prevalence in asymptomatic iron deficiency anaemia
*1-3% prevalence in osteoporosis

The condition is underdiagnosed, partly because of a range of atypical and potentially confusing clinical presentations.
Tissue transglutaminase antibody testing and duodenal biopsy represent the optimal investigations for diagnosis.

Did you know these facts about Coeliac Disease

Coeliac Disease is:
*More common than Type I Diabetes
*More common than Rheumatoid Arthritis
*More common than Alzheimer's Disease
*More common than Autism
*Twice as common as Crohn's Disease, Cystic Fibrosis and ulcerative Colitis

Did you also know that the following groups of individuals have an increased incidence of Coeliac Disease?

*Approximately 1 in 20 individuals with Type I diabetes will also have Coeliac Disease
*Approximately 5-10% of individuals suffering from anaemia will also have Coeliac Disease
*Approximately 10% of European Irish will test positive for Coeliac Disease
*Approximately 1 in 10 relatives of Coeliac patients will also have Coeliac Disease

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