Gene Test Results?

[suz101]

my 2 year old son has celiac disease. My 4 month old just had the gene test and is positive for DQ-8 and negative for DQ-2. Does anyone know if its better to have one or the other gene? are the odds higher with one ?? are the odds higher if he had both genes?? or doesnt it matter????

thanks!!!

[happygirl]

my 2 year old son has celiac disease. My 4 month old just had the gene test and is positive for DQ-8 and negative for DQ-2. Does anyone know if its better to have one or the other gene? are the odds higher with one ?? are the odds higher if he had both genes?? or doesnt it matter????

thanks!!!

Suz,

I don't think there is any research to support if DQ8 or DQ2 is better or worse, per se, to have. Nor is there any research that I know of that has to do with the incidence of your chances of having it with one or the other. The vast majority of Celiacs are DQ2 (about 90%). About 8+% are DQ8 (I am a DQ8), and the remaining 1-2% don't have either of these genes. Some tend to have DQ1 though.

about 30ish % of the American population has one or both genes. 1 in 133 Americans have Celiac, but 97% don't know it. So, just having the gene doesn't mean a person will get it. However, having a first degree relative with Celiac increases the risk of their sibling having it (estimates range) ---see this link for info: Open Original Shared Link. Another statistic I've heard is that there is a 1 in 22 chance for first degree relatives to have Celiac, 1 in 39 of second degree relatives, etc. However, I think when there are two or more in one family, the risk for others is higher.

Hope this helps a little bit!

Laura

[suz101]

Suz,

I don't think there is any research to support if DQ8 or DQ2 is better or worse, per se, to have. Nor is there any research that I know of that has to do with the incidence of your chances of having it with one or the other. The vast majority of Celiacs are DQ2 (about 90%). About 8+% are DQ8 (I am a DQ8), and the remaining 1-2% don't have either of these genes. Some tend to have DQ1 though.

about 30ish % of the American population has one or both genes. 1 in 133 Americans have Celiac, but 97% don't know it. So, just having the gene doesn't mean a person will get it. However, having a first degree relative with Celiac increases the risk of their sibling having it (estimates range) ---see this link for info: Open Original Shared Link. Another statistic I've heard is that there is a 1 in 22 chance for first degree relatives to have Celiac, 1 in 39 of second degree relatives, etc. However, I think when there are two or more in one family, the risk for others is higher.

Hope this helps a little bit!

Laura