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I have a question regarding genetics and I hope you wonderful and intelligent people can help me understand. I was diagnosed with CD last March after being quite ill with watery diarreha and wasting for almost 6 months. I did have a biopsy which confirmed this. In hindsight, I see that all my previous gastrointestinal symptoms/problems were misdiagnosed as IBS for the last 10 years. After receiving my diagnosis and learning more about CD, I suspected my 3-year old daughter also had CD. Blood test confirmed this with tTG AB IGG and tTG AB IGA (IGA way out of range). I took her to a pediatric GI who diagnosed her with CD. We decided there was no need for a biopsy because of her young age and her improvement on a GF diet. He recommended waiting 6 months and then doing genetic testing to make the diagnosis more firm.

Here is my question? It has now been 6 months I have been pondering whether to do the testing. I just read an article today that confuses me regarding the genetics of CD. the article is at this address: 
http://www.celiac.com/st_prod.html?p_prodid=1045
(the celiac.com website). The article was by Scott Adams editor of the Scott-Free newsletter. In the article, he states that he carries both markers for CD which are DQ2 & DQ8 which means he inherited a gene from both parents. His son tested positive for DQ2 and his brother positive for DQ2 and DQ8. He states that both will "need to watch out for any future signs of the disease for the rest of their lives, and probably get screened for it from time to time. On the up side there is still only a small chance that either will ever develop the disease, and at least we will know to watch for its symptoms in the future, which likely would lead to a quick diagnosis and treatment should one of them ever get it."

My question is if you have both genes then don't you have celiac disease and shouldn't you be on a gluten free diet because of the negative health ramifications of CD. Can you have active CD with only one genetic marker? I am quite certain my father has CD but will not get tested (he is 73) and suspect one of my siblings may also have CD. I have talked with my siblings about getting tested but both have decided not to. I wonder about the possibility of my daughter passing the genetics on to her children (although that is obviously many years away.) 

Can someone shed some light on this genetic issue. There are reasons to have it done and reasons to not have it done. I know it has come up before in posts but I do not have a clear understanding of the genetics. I will post any responses. Thank you in advance for your help.

Live well and be healthy
Mary in Kansas

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