Research: Morbidity, mortality and effect of treatment in cd and dh

Investigations of the morbidity, mortality and effect of treatment in coeliac disease and dermatitis herpetiformis

Dr Nina Ruth Lewis, University of Nottingham Medical School, QMC

Summary
About 1% of the population have undetected coeliac disease. Classic coeliac disease has been associated with a 2-fold increased risk of death and malignant disease particularly lymphoma and bone problems.

People with coeliac disease appear to be at reduced risk of vascular disease and breast cancer. It is not known whether people with undetected or non-classic coeliac disease have the same risks from the disease or benefits from treatment with a gluten-free diet as those with classic coeliac disease. We aim to determine whether treatment with a gluten-free diet alters the risk factors for vascular disease and breast cancer in patients with coeliac disease and to examine the mortality risks associated with undetected coeliac disease.

We envisage that the results on the possible benefit or even unexpected adverse effects of exposure to a gluten-free diet will influence national gluten-free diet prescribing guidelines and will rapidly translate into improvements in health care.