DDW: Day 3 Early Morning Celiac Session

First thing this morning, celiac experts filled room 32 of the San Diego Convention Center to talk about the latest advances in celiac disease. Dr. Bob Anderson from Australia explored basic scientific advances and had some very interesting things to point out.

• Researchers estimate that 5% of celiac patients in the United States are now correctly diagnosed. That doesn't sound like a lot, but considering that last year there was only 1%, this is a huge improvement! Only 95% more to go! Thank goodness for awesome awareness campaigns.
• 20% of celiac patients are correctly diagnosed in Australia, UK, and Sweden.
• 50% of celiac patients are diagnosed in Finland...they must be doing something right!
• The most common path to diagnosis is through a gastroenterologist.
• Diagnosis is confirmed through an invasive intestinal biopsy.
• Today, the only treatment is a gluten-free diet.

After presenting the State of Celiac Disease Today, Dr. Anderson hypothesized about where celiac disease will be in 10 years. Here's what he predicts:

• More than 50% of celiac patients in the United States will be correctly diagnosed.
• Primary care physicians will lead the charts in number of diagnoses.
• There will be non-invasive methods to accurately diagnose celiac disease. This means a change in the gold standard.
• Treatment will include both drugs and/or a gluten-free diet.
• The gluten-free diet will be considered normal.
• Physicians will be able to predict responses in patients.

Dr. Anderson also listed priorities for celiac researchers including preventing the disease, improving treatment methods and promoting collaboration amongst researchers, industry and advocacy groups. He also suggested that better diagnostic tools will be developed including rapid tests and more specific blood tests.

All of this information is tremendously exciting and gives hope to all of us with celiac disease. New researcher is emerging everyday and someday, maybe....we will find a cure!

Comments

[Karen]

Thanks for posting these summaries- they are so helpful for people like me that can't go but are anxious to hear the latest in the news about celiac.

karen
http://glutenfreefoodreviews.com