<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>
 
This is a good time to mention a conversation that I had this week with  a
lady going in for a biopsy.  She was diagnosed with DH (dermatitis
herpetiformis) about five years ago.
 
She recently had two sets of blood tests for celiac disease.  One negative
and one positive.  She is now going in for the biopsy to determine if she
has CD.
 
The co-chairman of my local group had a conversation with a lady with CD.
Her twin sister has DH.  In their minds they do not have the same disease.
 
Another conversation was with the mother of a child with CD.  Her mother
has gluten intolerance.  But it is not the same problem.
 
In Europe it appears that the definition for celiac and DH are now
considered one in the same.  This is especially true from the patients
standpoint who is on a GF diet.
 
Many physicians use these terms for an intolerance to wheat, rye, oats,
and barley:
 
Celiac disease, celiac sprue, coeliac disease, gluten intolerance, gluten
sensitive enteropathy, dermatitis herpetiformis.  Years ago celiac disease
or sprue was the name given based upon your age at time of diagnosis.
 
Yes, there are some differences between DH and CD and I am making an over
simplication of the diseases.
 
Regards,
 
Michael Jones, [log in to unmask]
Living a wonderful, GF life in Orlando, FL USA