DIGESTIVE DISEASE WEEK 2007

Nearly two weeks ago, nearly 17,000 medical types converged on Washington, DC for Digestive Disease Week 2007.

So what was the buzz on celiac disease? Dr. Alessio Fasano's overview "Highlights on Celiac Disease,the 'New Kid' on the GI Block" can be found on Medscape.

For me, the highlights of the highlights include the following:

Recovery of the small intestine is often incomplete after a gluten-free diet and the resolution of symptoms.

Clinical presentation among seniors (65 and older) can differ from clinical presentation among younger adults (18-30).

Baboons may provide an animal model of human celiac disease for research.

HLA genotypes DQ2 and DQ8 are found in nearly all celiac disease patients. [NOTE It is very common to test positive for DQ2 and/or DQ8 and be negative for celiac disease.]

Dr. Peter Green of the Celiac Disease Center at Columbia had a hand in many of the studies cited by Dr. Fasano.

I expect to learn more about at least some of the findings at a later date.