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These are the critical comments I voiced to Time's editor
([log in to unmask]),

I thank your magazine for giving consideration and awareness to a common
genetic and autoimmune disease called celiac disease.  However, I was
disappointed in the errors in your article entitled "Allergic to Wheat?".
The title first of all does not describe celiac disease as an autoimmune
disease but as an allergy.  Your magazine has a responsibility to the public
it serves not to have gross errors in its writings.  Here's a further
elaboration of the errors in the article written by Mr. Michael D. Lemonick:
1)  Celiac disease is not "caused by a severe allergy".  Celiac disease is
caused by a genetic predisposition and an environmental trigger identified
as gluten, a protein in wheat, rye, barley, and oats.

2)  Celiac disease "seems to be caused by a genetic defect" is an incorrect
statement since the genes that predispose someone to celiac disease are not
defective but present in approximately or up to 30% of the U.S. population
and not everyone who has these genes necessarily develops celiac disease.

3)  The article also cited that if the blood tests to diagnose celiac
disease "are positive, a quick biopsy of the small bowel provides a
definitive verdict".  This statement is not true for the following reasons:
a)  The blood tests do not have to be positive to warrant a biopsy of the
small intestine since other clinical symptoms and factors (i.e., results of
other tests) can warrant suspicion or reason to perform a biopsy.
b)  One biopsy is not always sufficient because the damage to the intestines
caused by the autoimmune response can be patchy and several biopsies, as
much as a dozen, should be taken as to not miss finding the damage.
c)  Biopsies are not necessarily definitive if the patient has already
instituted a gluten-free diet or is not eating enough gluten to elicit an
immune response which will provoke the damage evident on biopsy findings.

Pls. send your letters to editors of magazines who allow the plight of
celiac disease diagnosis and awareness to be diluted or misleading which may
affect the perception of how serious a disease celiac disease really is and
cause further underdiagnosis.

Laura Y.

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