Is This the Beginning of the End for Celiac Disease? The Top Five Most Promising Advances in Celiac Disease

[Scott Adams]

Are we at the beginning of the end for celiac disease? The last few years have seen numerous advances in celiac diagnosis and treatment. People diagnosed recently and in the future face a very different world than that faced by celiacs just five or ten years ago.

In the old days, the process of properly diagnosing involved blood tests, endoscopies, and biopsies. In the near future, a simple blood test may do the trick.

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[Gemini]

2 hours ago, admin said:

Are we at the beginning of the end for celiac disease? The last few years have seen numerous advances in celiac diagnosis and treatment. People diagnosed recently and in the future face a very different world than that faced by celiacs just five or ten years ago.

In the old days, the process of properly diagnosing involved blood tests, endoscopies, and biopsies. In the near future, a simple blood test may do the trick.

View the full article

You know, I would rather follow the gluten-free diet for the rest of my life than do hookworm or fecal transplant treatments.  That is just so........GROSS!  

[Scott Adams]

You are free to make that choice...other options will be available shortly...

[Gemini]

I am not sure what I would do for "treatment" other than the gluten-free diet.  It would be great if they had a pill that would protect against cc so your immune system wouldn't ramp up with small hits but honestly?  Considering I triggered with a disease that damn near did me in 12 years ago, it's highly doubtful I would knowingly ingest any wheat, barley or rye ever again in my life.  I just do not find the gluten-free lifestyle/diet burdensome or that hard to make me do that.  I'm pretty happy with the options that have worked for me for so long.  Any pills or treatment would have to have zero side effects or it's a no go for me.  I know too many people that had life threatening complications from medications they were on.  It's like trading one serious problem for another.

For those who opt for any treatment, it will be interesting to see just how it works and if there are down sides.

[Posterboy]

2 hours ago, Gemini said:

I am not sure what I would do for "treatment" other than the gluten-free diet.  It would be great if they had a pill that would protect against cc so your immune system wouldn't ramp up with small hits but honestly?  Considering I triggered with a disease that damn near did me in 12 years ago, it's highly doubtful I would knowingly ingest any wheat, barley or rye ever again in my life.  I just do not find the gluten-free lifestyle/diet burdensome or that hard to make me do that.  I'm pretty happy with the options that have worked for me for so long.  Any pills or treatment would have to have zero side effects or it's a no go for me.  I know too many people that had life threatening complications from medications they were on.  It's like trading one serious problem for another.

For those who opt for any treatment, it will be interesting to see just how it works and if there are down sides.

Gemini,

The FMT is not as gross as it sounds.

It could be in a two stage release pill much like some probiotic's or as a suppository.

I dug through some of the research linked in the article.  Very interesting research.

Here are two that stuck out to me.

https://www.celiac.com/articles/21685/1/More-Evidence-Links-Gut-Bacteria-to-Celiac-Disease/Page1.html

https://www.celiac.com/articles/21605/1/Do-Vitamin-D-Deficiency-Gut-Bacteria-and-Gluten-Combine-in-Infancy-to-Cause-Celiac-Disease/Page1.html

they both seem to be quite old research (or at least relatively old compared to the newer research now coming out confirming this earlier research) about 9 years old I think.

they seem to indicate Vitamin D acts a s signaling mechanism + the biome (inflammation) dysbosis.

I think maybe Knitty Kitty may have referenced these (or at least she did some other Vitamin D research) that establishes Vitamin D important in Auto-Immune diseases.

the researchers conclude quoting

"Differences in vitamin D levels and the makeup of gut bacteria in the twins offers a reasonable explanation as to why one twin gets celiac disease and the other does not. Early childhood illnesses and antibiotics could also affect vitamin D level and gut bacteria makeup."

I think it is exciting that we finding out what environmental factors might trigger our genetic responses.

If they know what triggers Celiac disease is some patients then they can turn it off in other's while it is the NCGS phase of the disease.

the c. diff research indicates it might be possible at least.

https://www.celiac.com/articles/24859/1/A-Case-of-Refractory-Celiac-Disease-Cured-By-Fecal-Microbiota-Transfer/Page1.html

what concerns me about this research is as gemini noted (and I think most of us feel that way) how are they gonna get a Celiac/NCGS patient to "volunteer" to eat gluten to test these treatments?

But it should be noted it only helped refractory symptom's in those who where not eating gluten at the time. 

Not that it would allow celiac's to begin eating gluten again.

Summarizes well in this article by Jefferson Adams

https://www.celiac.com/articles/24099/1/Why-All-the-Hate-for-Celiac-Disease-Drug-Treatments/Page1.html

I agree it is an exciting time to be a celiac especially if blood diagnosis without biopsy becomes more common and something I have tried to advocate here because my doctor was forward thinking enough to diagnose me as a celiac on blood serology (and a dramatic response/drop on a 30 day gluten fast in antibodies) years ago well before current research has confirmed this possibility.

I wish more doctor's were more up on the latest research regarding blood test diagnosis without biopsy.  It would save a lot of people undue suffering in my humble opinion.  But old habits die hard.

again fascinating research and thank you admin for posting these exciting development's in celiac research.

posterboy,

 

 

[Gemini]

Oh, it is fascinating but I am comfortable eating gluten free and being careful with my food.  I never had an issues adapting to this lifestyle so, unless they come out with some fantastic cure that you get one shot for and it's done, I am not interested.  I just cannot imagine eating wheat again.  I don't miss it at all.  I have found the exciting new world of gluten free grains and after spending a lot of time learning to cook well with them, I am not going back. 

BTW,.........I was diagnosed without biopsy.  You should see my blood screen for Celiac.  When I show it to any new doctor who gets uppity about me not having a biopsy and whether or not I really have Celiac, their eyeballs pop.  Not to mention I am a classic Celiac so my size only bolsters the blood work. I think it isn't just "old habits die hard" mentality, they make a fortune on biopsies.  They have whole wings dedicated to scoping people these days and they don't want to give up that money train.  But I totally agree with you in that they could be doing a lot better.  They still make the same mistakes with people since I was diagnosed 12 years ago!

[Posterboy]

34 minutes ago, Gemini said:

Oh, it is fascinating but I am comfortable eating gluten free and being careful with my food.  I never had an issues adapting to this lifestyle so, unless they come out with some fantastic cure that you get one shot for and it's done, I am not interested.  I just cannot imagine eating wheat again.  I don't miss it at all.  I have found the exciting new world of gluten free grains and after spending a lot of time learning to cook well with them, I am not going back. 

BTW,.........I was diagnosed without biopsy.  You should see my blood screen for Celiac.  When I show it to any new doctor who gets uppity about me not having a biopsy and whether or not I really have Celiac, their eyeballs pop.  Not to mention I am a classic Celiac so my size only bolsters the blood work. I think it isn't just "old habits die hard" mentality, they make a fortune on biopsies.  They have whole wings dedicated to scoping people these days and they don't want to give up that money train.  But I totally agree with you in that they could be doing a lot better.  They still make the same mistakes with people since I was diagnosed 12 years ago!

Gemini,

One of the links in the article was about a potential "vaccine" for celiac's.

https://www.celiac.com/articles/24779/1/This-Vaccine-Could-Be-a-Game-Changer-for-People-with-Celiac-Disease/Page1.html

I think it is toward the bottom of the article.

Their summary/conclusion state's it well.

" The main takeaway from these developments is that we are now living in an age where the diagnosis and treatment of celiac disease is the focus of tremendous research and development on numerous fronts. Many of these will likely result in products, tests, or treatments for celiac disease that were unimaginable just 5 or 10 years ago." 

Like even a vaccine for Celiac's (hopefully) soon!

posterboy,