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NIH: Celiac disease under-diagnosed, challenging  The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has launched a campaign to heighten awareness of celiac disease, an autoimmune disorder that interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food.   The campaign stems from consensus recommendations of an independent panel of experts convened by the NIH to assess current diagnosis, treatment and management of the disease. Celiac disease is an autoimmune response to gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley.   Symptoms of celiac disease range from gas, diarrhea and abdominal pain to delayed growth, certain skin rashes, infertility and osteoporosis. Treatment for celiac disease is adherence to a gluten-free diet.     “We now know that celiac disease is more prevalent than previously thought—affecting nearly 1 percent of the U.S. population—and remains under-diagnosed,” said Griffin P. Rodgers, M.D., acting director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), the NIH institute leading the effort.  “Through the campaign, we hope to increase physician awareness of the disease, resulting in earlier diagnosis and better outcomes for celiac patients.”   Lawrence Comerford, M.D., an inflammatory bowel disease specialist with MUSC’s Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, said celiac disease often is misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome. “The disease is more common in white people with northern European ancestry from countries like Sweden, Denmark and Ireland,” Comerford said. “It’s not that uncommon. I have treated patients with celiac.”    One of the challenges with celiac disease is the array of symptoms associated with the disease, according to Stephen P. James, M.D., director of the Division of Digestive Diseases and Nutrition at the NIDDK.   “We are hoping to educate health professionals and the public that celiac disease is not only a gastrointestinal disease but also an autoimmune disorder,” James said.   For information on the campaign or to download any of the materials, visit http://www.celiac.nih.gov.   For information about the consensus development panel’s recommendations, visit http://consensus.nih.gov/2004/2004CeliacDisease118html.htm.  Friday, Aug. 25, 2006 Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.