Coeliac disease is underdiagnosed in primary care

It has long been suspected that coeliac disease is an underdiagnosed condition. In the typical market town of Banbury in England, Hin et al (p 164) screened a selective population in general practice using the best serological test for coeliac disease, the endomysial antibody test. Out of 1000 samples, 30 patients had positive results, and all were confirmed histologically. Most patients presented with non-gastrointestinal problems, and over half had anaemia. The authors conclude that coeliac disease is easily missed unless there is a high index of suspicion; that the prevalence of coeliac disease is higher than the accepted 1:1000; and that serological testing using the endomysial antibody test is reliable in detecting this eminently treatable condition.


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Relevant Article

Coeliac disease in primary care: case finding study

Harold Hin, Graham Bird, Peter Fisher, Nick Mahy, and Derek Jewell
BMJ 1999 318: 164-167. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]