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Celiac Disease
Understanding This Autoimmune Disorder
By Lisa A. Goldstein
The Diagnostic Process
The first step in the diagnostic process is testing the blood for specific antibodies. If tests and symptoms suggest celiac disease, Dr. Green says, the next step is removing a tiny piece of tissue from the small intestine to check for damage to the villi – small finger-like projections that are important for nutrient digestion and absorption. A long, thin tube called an endoscope is eased through the mouth and stomach into the small intestine to take a tissue sample. The good news is that treatment doesn't involve medication, nor does it affect the duration of life. For most people, avoiding foods with gluten will result in improvements quickly. However, this diet is lifelong. "Eating any 
gluten, no matter how small an amount, can damage the intestine," Dr. Green says. "This is true for anyone with the disease, including people who do not have noticeable symptoms."
Dealing with the Disease
The diet does mean a drastic lifestyle change. Foods with gluten in them include most grains, pasta, cereal and many processed foods. "Despite these restrictions, people with celiac disease can eat a well-balanced diet with a variety of foods," Dr. Green says. Many regular supermarkets and smaller health food stores carry gluten-free (GF) products. There are many sites online that carry these products, and more products are available every day. New food labeling laws that went into effect in January 2006 are now making shopping easier because gluten is more readily identified. An advantage to being diagnosed young is that your child will soon forget the taste of food with gluten, as opposed to a teenager or adult with years of taste-bud exposure.
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