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From:
The Cholertons <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sat, 14 Apr 2001 17:39:18 +0200
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<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

Hello Everyone!

Thank you to the 31 people who replied to my question about blood donations!
Sorry I have taken a while to get back to you but I have been away.

If you recall I said that a friend of mine had been denied the opportunity
to donate blood here in South Africa, after she stated she was a Celiac. No
reasons were given. I wondered what the situation was like in other
countries. I feel that there are so many undiagnosed Celiacs in the general
population and they of course are never denied the opportunity to donate
blood. In fact diagnosed Celiacs on a strict gluten free diet are much
healthier than many in the general population.

2 replies came from Canada. They both stated that Canadians cannot donate
blood.

2 replies came from Australia. Both said that you can donate in that
country.

3 replies came from UK. One stated that you can donate, but only if your
blood was negative for gluten antibodies. However, if you have any other
auto-immune disease, (however minor), you are classed as having
"multifunctional auto-immune disorder" and are then automatically barred
from donating.

The remaining replies were from USA. The majority donate to the American Red
Cross and have never had a problem. In the Red Cross book, next to the entry
for Celiac Disease, the wording is "Accept". Most felt that as long as they
were not anaemic or had low iron stores, they could always donate. Most
collection points were far more concerned about communicable diseases like
syphilis, HIV, and Hepatitis than about antibody-related problems. However,
there were three exceptions. Firstly, a patient of Dr Murray at the Mayo
Clinic was told not to donate because Celiacs have an auto-immune disease
and it has not yet been proven that they cannot pass on the disease through
the blood. Secondly, a person had been denied donating blood because of
elevated liver enzymes. Thirdly, a patient in South Florida had been barred
because it was "a disease". A nurse however did say that if you don't tell
the nurses in charge that you are a Celiac, no-one will ask, and you would
not be barred.

Some personal opinions were that

1) We are lucky to be healthy without risking a problem by donating blood.

2) For our own health we should be careful, as our compromised immune
systems do not build back as quickly as non-celiacs.

3) Just donate - nobody asks!!!

4) Donate regularly to the American Red Cross.

So there you have it. It appears to be up to the individual to handle it in
a way that either suits his health or his conscience!

Lucille Cholerton
(Chairperson, Gluten Intolerance/Coeliac Support Group, Durban, South
Africa)
Web Page: http://www.labspec.co.za/coeliac/index.htm

P.S. Anyone seen the April 2nd issue of TIME magazine? It has an article on
CD and HEADACHES.

It states "MRI brain scans suggest that gluten somehow triggers an
inflammatory response in the white matter of the cerebrum".

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