Gene Questions?

[momof2sn]

My daughter was diagnosed in May with Celiac Disease, she has the HLA-DQ8 and we just found out today that so does my husband. He is having no symptoms and is always the healthiest in our house. I want to know what the next step is? Does he have his levels checked?? What have you done?? Any opinions??

[~alex~]

It's probably a good idea for both your husband and yourself to get a celiac panel since you have a diagnosed first degree relative. I think celiac genes are quite common and having one doesn't assure having celiac but makes it a possibility. If your husband tests negative he can always keep in mind that celiac is a possibility and if he ever becomes ill he can be retested.

[momandgirls]

If he's healthy, I would do nothing. Upwards of 50% of this country's population carries the gene for celiac disease - many will never actually develop the disease. Just because you carry the gene for celiac does not mean that you have the disease. Gene testing can rule out a diagnosis of celiac but cannot rule one in.

[kevieb]

since we have 3 girls with celiac disease, our doctor has recommended that we test everyone in the family every 3 years or so. only one of our kids has had gene testing done---and he carries one of the celiac genes but has no active disease. our doctor's recommendation with him is that we test him yearly----or sooner if he develops symptoms.

[happygirl]

All Celiac experts recommend that ALL first degree relatives are tested, REGARDLESS of symptoms. Lack of symptoms does not mean "no" Celiac. Dr. Peter Green says that most Celiacs are actually silent Celiacs.

[momof2sn]

All Celiac experts recommend that ALL first degree relatives are tested, REGARDLESS of symptoms. Lack of symptoms does not mean "no" Celiac. Dr. Peter Green says that most Celiacs are actually silent Celiacs.

Yeah, that is what I am worried about. I don't want us to not know about his levels, because I would hate for him to be 50 and finally have symptoms and then he has really damaged his body and put himself at risk for even more problems. Would he need to see a GI or can he just go to a regular doctor?? Our ped GI recommended the gene testing and is now kind of holding up her hands and letting us figure out what to do since she only deals with kids. I don't want her to treat my husband just give us the direction we need to take next.