Poor medical follow-up leaves coeliac disease patients on their own

A study in Olmstead County, Minnesota, US, has found that patients with coeliac disease (CD) are not followed up consistently and to the standard recommended by the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA).

The only effective treatment for CD is a gluten-free diet. The AGA has recommended that patients with CD be followed up, and make regular visits to the clinic for serologic tests to track the progress of their disease. However there is no standardised procedure for physicians to follow.

Researchers led by Dr Joseph A Murray of Mayo Clinic looked at 122 patients with biopsy-diagnosed CD. They found that of the 113 patients who were followed up for more than four years, only 35% received the attention that matched the AGA recommendations.

The researchers recommend improving the follow-up strategies for those with coeliac disease, which could improve their quality of life and management of the disease.

Source: Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology

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