title: Detection of continuing gluten ingestion in treated coeliac patients.
abstract: To assess the incidence and effects of continuing gluten ingestion in coeliac disease 51 adult coeliac patients were studied after four to 132 (mean 63) months on a prescribed gluten-free diet. Each patient completed a prospective dietary questionnaire, underwent a repeat jejunal biopsy, and gave serum for gluten antibody estimation. Altogether 65% of patients were still ingesting gluten, often inadvertently. Direct questioning on dietary habits had failed to uncover most of this consumption. The gluten antibody test proved a useful screening test for detecting continuing gluten ingestion and patients with both persistent subtotal villous atrophy and gluten antibodies were almost certain to be taking large amounts ( more than 2 g/day). The presence of persistent partial villous atrophy was found, however, to be an unreliable guide to gluten intake.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D001706:Biopsy; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005983:Glutens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D007583:Jejunum / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D005983:Glutens