<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> 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