How is it diagnosed? Good blood tests are
now available including IgA antihuman tissue transglutaminase (TTG)
and IgA endomysial antibody immunofluorescence (EMA). The NIH
Consensus Conference on Celiac Disease recommended serologic testing
as the first step in diagnosis with biopsy of the small intestine
indicated if the blood tests are positive. Testing must be done
while the patient is on a gluten-containing diet. 97% of people
with celiac disease have the genetic markers HLA DQ2 and/or DQ8
compared to 40% of the general population who have these markers so
an individual without these markers is unlikely to have celiac
disease.
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