Ep 67 New Study on a Screening Test for Celiac Disease in Children
Let’s start the blog with the Show Notes for this episode:
I was intrigued to speak with Dr. Herbert Brill of William Osler Health System regarding the study he did with other health care professionals on the efficacy of the DGP blood test with children referred for further consultation in screening for celiac disease. The study focussed on children with a negative TTG test and a positive DGP test. The study concluded the test was not useful in screening children for celiac disease in the general population. You can find an article about the study on the William Osler Health System website at the following link –
http://bit.ly/DGPTestStudy
This study was brought to my attention by a post from Ellen Bayens of The Celiac Scene. You can subscribe to her newsletter at www.theceliacscene.com. Thanks Ellen!
Sue’s Websites and Social Media –
Podcast https://acanadianceliacpodcast.libsyn.com
Podcast Blog – https://www.acanadianceliacblog.com
Facebook – @acanadianceliacpodcast
Twitter – CeliacPodcastCA
Email – acdnceliacpodcast@gmail.com
Baking Website – https://www.suesglutenfreebaking.com
Instagram – @suesgfbaking
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUVGfpD4eJwwSc_YjkGagza06yYe3ApzL
(search Sues Gluten Free Baking)
Email – sue@suesglutenfreebaking.com
Other Podcast – Gluten Free Weigh In – https://glutenfreeweighin.libsyn.com
My Thoughts –
After I was diagnosed with celiac disease and started on a gluten free diet, it was time to investigate if either of my young daughters had the condition. I have written before about my older daughter, then turning 5, being diagnosed and my younger daughter, then 2 being found negative. For our family, it was a good experience and watching her thrive almost immediately on a gluten free diet made it all worthwhile.
Since then, and with my involvement with the Canadian Celiac Association, I have known many families to go through months of uncertainty, and not being able to switch to a gluten free diet without a proper diagnosis. I feel for these families. There is not much that can be done. As a parent, you may be feeding your child food that is making him or her sick, but you can’t change that, prior to diagnosis.
As an adult, on the path of diagnosis, you can understand the situation. You must keep gluten in your diet to get it right. As a parent, you can’t take the pain from your child, and you unfortunately must just trust the testing, the doctors and the system. Easier said than done.
The study done by Dr. Brill and his colleagues, hopefully makes this process easier. Families who were preparing for an endoscopy and a diagnosis, may be spared the worry for them and the procedure for their child.
When we think of research into celiac disease, we commonly think of a cure, new testing methods, or a medication for symptoms. We rarely think of improving the current screening process, but this study will make a difference for families with sick children. Years from now, we may have a cure, or we may have a medication, and it will be the culmination of many different studies and trials. Thank you, Dr. Brill and your colleagues for your efforts.