Australians living with suspected coeliac disease could soon be spared difficult testing, thanks to a team of Melbourne researchers.
Currently, the only definitive way to diagnose coeliac disease is through a biopsy of the small intestine, which must be done while a person is consuming gluten regularly. For many people who have already cut gluten from their diet, often to relieve painful symptoms, this can mean enduring weeks of gut pain, bloating, and fatigue to get a clear answer.
But a new study published in Gastroenterology suggests that a simple blood test could one day diagnose coeliac disease even in people who aren’t currently eating gluten.
Researchers from the Coeliac Research Laboratory at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) studied a small group of adults who had been following a strict gluten-free diet for at least one year. By exposing their blood samples to gluten in the lab and measuring levels of the immune marker interleukin-2 (IL-2), the test was able to accurately detect coeliac disease with up to 90 per cent sensitivity and 97 per cent specificity, without the need for patients to resume eating gluten.
While more testing is needed, researchers say the results are a promising first step toward developing a more accessible diagnostic tool.
“There are likely millions of people around the world living with undiagnosed coeliac disease simply because the path to diagnosis is difficult, and at times, debilitating,” explained Associate Professor Jason Tye-Din, study co-author and a gastroenterologist at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
“This new test promises to simplify and speed up accurate diagnosis, while also avoiding the suffering that comes with eating gluten for extended periods to reactivate coeliac disease.”
How many Australians are affected?
According to Coeliac Australia, around 1 in 70 Australians are affected by coeliac disease, but 80 per cent remain undiagnosed. That means more than 250,000 people could be living with the condition without knowing it.
Coeliac disease is a serious autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system reacts abnormally to gluten – a protein found in wheat, rye, barley and oats – damaging the lining of the small intestine and affecting nutrient absorption. If left untreated, it can lead to long-term health issues, including infertility, osteoporosis, and some cancers. There’s no cure – the only treatment is a strict, lifelong gluten-free diet.
Signs you could have coeliac disease
Symptoms of coeliac disease vary widely, and not everyone experiences the same issues. If you suspect you may be affected, speak to your GP before removing gluten from your diet. Common ones to look out for include:
- Frequent bloating, diarrhoea or constipation
- Prolonged fatigue or low energy
- Unexplained weight loss
- Iron deficiency
- Recurrent mouth ulcers
- Brain fog or mood swings
- Skin rashes
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