Celiac Disease

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease that affects how the body digests a protein called gluten. It often causes painful and uncomfortable digestive symptoms that can make life difficult. While here is no cure for Celiac Disease, a gluten free diet is the most effective way to manage your illness. Our Comprehensive Celiac Center helps you manage your diet, lifestyle, medications, and other associated illnesses.

Comprehensive Celiac Disease care

At our Comprehensive Celiac Center you‘ll receive care from a team of gastroenterologists, dieticians, clinical nutritionists, and clinical psychologists. More subspecialists at the Autoimmunity Institute are ready to lend a hand and address co-existing conditions if needed.
People choose us because:

• We are equipped with an experienced and subspecialized care team
• We understand the importance of teamwork and communication between providers
• We have the updated and approved testing to confirm and survey celiac disease
• We provide practical and realistic advice regarding living with celiac disease
  
• We provide a comfortable environment where questions can be answered with every patient receiving the attention that they need and deserve
  
• We can facilitate your follow up and care in locations that are more convenient for you

Celiac Disease symptoms

Celiac Disease can affect other parts of your body. Non-digestive symptoms include:

• Persistent diarrhea
• Abdominal cramps and pain
• Nausea and weight loss
• Bloating
• Anemia (when there are not enough healthy red blood cells in your blood)
• Fatigue
• Bone or joint pains
• Depression or anxiety
• Numbness in hands and feet
• Mouth sores
• Skin rash

Diagnosing Celiac Disease

We use our in-depth understanding of celiac disease, reliable blood tests, and small intestine biopsies to precisely and quickly diagnose celiac disease. We start with reviewing your medical history and conducting a thorough physical exam. Then, your gastroenterologist may recommend you undergo one or more of the following tests:

• Blood tests: Antibodies are blood proteins that your immune system makes in response to a perceived threat. High levels of certain antibodies show that your body thinks gluten is dangerous. Our screening tests can also detect celiac disease even I you have mild or no symptoms at all.
• Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: If a blood test is positive for celiac disease or the clinical suspicion is high, your physician may recommend more testing. These tests may include an endoscopy with biopsy (small tissue sample) of the small intestine. During an endoscopy, your physician carefully guides an endoscope (a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera at the end) toward your small intestine. Your physician may also perform a biopsy to analyze your gastrointestinal tract further.
• Celiac disease screening: Celiac disease can run in families. If you have celiac disease, your physician may recommend that family members get screened for the condition. Screening is done with a simple blood test.

Treating Celiac Disease

When celiac disease is not treated effectively, it can lead to a variety of health problems caused by uncontrolled damage and inflammation of the small intestine. Even small amounts of gluten can trigger such injury. A gluten-free diet is the best available celiac disease treatment. Our dietitian has special expertise in managing celiac disease and can teach you how to follow a gluten-free diet that works for your taste preferences and lifestyle.

At our Comprehensive Celiac Center housed at AHN’s Autoimmunity Institute, different specialists can provide you with an in-depth assessment and understanding of what a gluten-free diet means for your life:

1. The gastroenterologist will inform you about the disease and the expected follow up plans of care.
2. Our dietitian will offer eating strategies and suggestions to help you change your diet in a way that works with your lifestyle.
3. A clinical psychologist will help you cope and adapt to such a change in dietary lifestyle which may understandably affect socializing with family and friends, travel and holidays as well as other details or aspects in your life that are you feel are important to you

Our team remains available to answer your questions anytime beyond your clinic visit.

Contact us

Our team remains available to answer your questions anytime beyond your clinic visit. Call (412) DOCTORS (412) 362-8677 or request an appointment to learn more about AHN Celiac Disease services.