Diagnosis of coeliac disease
- Coeliac disease is a common autoimmune disease affecting 1 in 100 people in the UK.
- Only 36% of people with coeliac disease are currently diagnosed.
- 1 in 4 people with coeliac disease have been previously treated for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). NICE guidelines recommend that before a diagnosis of IBS is made, coeliac disease should be excluded first.
- It takes on average 13 years from onset of symptoms to diagnosis of coeliac disease.
- Gluten must remain in the diet before and during testing for coeliac disease.
- The BSG and NICE recommends total immunoglobulin A (IgA) and tissue transglutaminase IgA as the first choice test in diagnosis.