Health

Health: Celiac Disease

PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ― In health, eating a lot of fiber is a popular component of most diets. Medical Reporter Stephanie Stahl has details on how many dieters are finding out about a problem they never realized they had that can be dangerous to their health.

Celiac Disease is moving to center court Monday night as the Sixers are hosting a Celiac Disease Awareness night at the Wachovia Center.

It's a problem affecting approximately three million Americans. It's an internal allergic reaction to certain high fiber foods.

Jax Peters Lowell struggled for years losing weight and always feeling sick. She never really knew what was wrong.

"My bones broke. There's diarrhea, there's constipation, there's everything," said Jax.

She was finally diagnosed with Celiac Disease. The only treatment is a gluten free diet, meaning no wheat, rye, and barley. It's a digestive disease that damages the small intestine and interferes with absorption of nutrients from food.

Unlike Jax, some people don't have symptoms until there's intestinal damage.

"There are a lot of complications from Celiac Disease that people are unaware of," said Dr. Anthony DiMarino, the Chief of Gastroenterology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

He says Celiac Disease causes an autoimmune chain reaction leading to other health problems, like Type 1 diabetes even osteoporosis. Now he hopes to prevent these complications thanks to a new pill he's testing.

"I think it's exciting for a lot of people," said Dr. DiMarino.

It's called AT-1001, a drug that is supposed to block the absorption of gluten inside your intestine, preventing an autoimmune reaction.

"They take it right before they eat. The safety profile to this point has been excellent, it really has very little side effects," said Dr. DiMarino.

Jax was part of the initial trial, and she's excited about the possibilities of a drug like this.

"It's tremendously exciting that some day we'll be able to just take a pill and have a croissant," said Jax.

Doctors says if this medication is approved, Celiac Disease sufferers would remain on a gluten free diet, and use the medication as an aid to avoid accidental exposure to gluten.

At the basketball game Monday evening, some proceeds from tickets purchased will go toward Celiac awareness. Gluten free food and beer will also be sold at the game.

For more information on the Celiac study at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, call the study coordinator at 215-955-7979.


RELATED LINKS:

Clinical Trials
Alba Therapeutics
Celiac Disease Information
Medline Plus
National Foundation For Celiac Awareness

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