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Readers may be interested in the following article:
Collin P et al. (1994) Coeliac disease   associated disorders
and survival.  Gut vol 35 (9):1215 1218.  A University library
can order a copy.

Abstract:  The associated diseases in 335 coeliac patients
diagnosed 1980 1990 were compared with age and sex matched
control patients with various gastrointestinal symptoms.
Endocrine disorders were found in 11.9% of coeliac and 4.3% of
control patients (p=0.0003).  Coeliac patients had insulin
dependent diabetes mellitis significantly (p=0.0094) more often
(5.4%) than control patients (1.5%).  Connective tissue diseases
were found in 7.2% of coeliac and 2.7% of control patients
(p=0.011).  Sjogrens syndrome occurred in 3.3% of coeliac
patients and 0.3% of controls (p = 0.0059).  Autoimmune thyroid
diseases were found in 5.4% and asthma in 3.6% of coeliac
patients but also in 2.7% and 3.6%, respectively, among control
patients.  The incidences of malignant disease and the survival
rate in coeliac patients were compared with those in the Finnish
population.  Ten coeliac patients developed a cancer during the
follow up (mean 5.3 years, range 1 12) but none had a lymphoma.
The risk of malignant disease did not differ from that in the
Finnish population in general.  Eleven coeliac patients died
during the follow up.  The five year survival rate of coeliac
patients did not differ from those in the general population.
At least 83% of the coeliac patients adhered strictly to the
gluten free diet, which may explain the favorable outcome.

Karen Hughes
Univ. Tennessee, Knoxville