Does Every Celiac Carry The Celiac Gene?

[Crayons574]

Does every person who has Celiac Disease automatically carry the Celiac Gene? ...or are there some celiacs who do not carry the gene? I have read that you can carry the gene, but not have celiac, but all so confusing.

[Mother of Jibril]

The two genes that are most associated with celiac disease are DQ2.5 and DQ8. BUT... it's important to know that there are diagnosed celiacs with other genes (most notably DQ7.5, DQ2.2, and DQ9). I've read that anywhere from 90% to 98% percent of diagnosed celiacs have the "celiac genes." It's also important to know that there's a lot of research going on in this area... and that gluten can have dramatic effects on other parts of your body (joints, neurological system, endocrine system), so it's not like you're automatically "safe" if you don't have DQ2.5 or DQ8. It just means that you're less likely to have autoimmune damage to the villi in your intestines.

[Crayons574]

thank you so much. that was a really helpful answer!

[happygirl]

1 in 133 Americans have Celiac.

95-98% of Celiacs have one or both of HLA DQ2 or DQ8.

about 30-40% of the American population has one or both of the genes, so just having the gene does not diagnose Celiac.