May 2014 is celiac disease awareness month. Shawn Khodadadian, MD, of Manhattan Gastroenterology, answers questions about improving celiac disease awareness and advances in research. Question: How can gastroenterologists improve celiac disease awareness amongst their patients?
Dr. Shawn Khodadadian: Gastroenterologists can play a major role in improving celiac disease awareness among patients. Physicians can educate their patients in order to make them more aware of the typical and atypical symptoms of celiac disease so they can readily recognize them. This will help to identify those patients suffering with the disease who remain undiagnosed. We can also educate patients to realize that simple blood tests can be very helpful in selecting patients in which the diagnosis may be likely and may not need any invasive testing.
We can also make great strides in education patients about the importance of a gluten free diet in relieving symptoms as well as preventing long term complication in addition to providing adequate education essential in complying with a gluten free diet in real life.
Q: What are some of the major barriers standing the way of celiac disease diagnosis?
SK: One of the barriers to celiac diagnosis is that gastroenterologists and other healthcare providers may focus on the classic signs of celiac disease which include diarrhea, floating stools, weight loss, vitamin deficiency, anemia and neurologic disorders in order to diagnose the disease. Gastroenterologists must inquire and be vigilant in identifying atypical cases and for symptoms which may commonly overlap with symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and other conditions.
Q: What are some of the most exciting advances in celiac disease research?
SK: Celiac disease is an area of active and exciting research. There are new blood tests being studied that may be able to allow physicians to assess intestinal damage without the need for biopsy which would be very helpful in following our patients. Further, research is being conducted to better understand non-celiac gluten sensitivity and may be important in understanding symptoms and providing treatment to our patients.
Q: How do you think gastroenterologists' approach to celiac disease diagnosis and management will evolve over the next few years?
SK: Growing awareness of celiac disease will allow gastroenterologists to be able to diagnosis more patients with atypical symptoms of celiac disease and thereby situate us to prevent complications such as lymphoma and ulcerative jejunitis to a greater degree, as well as improve quality of life. Continued research into celiac disease as well as the pathophysiology of non-celiac gluten sensitivity in the future will allow gastroenterologists to improve patient symptoms through appropriate and accurate dietary modifications.
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