Who has Celiac Disease?

Celiac disease is the most common genetic autoimmune disease in the world. This makes celiac disease more common than lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, Crohn’s disease or cystic fibrosis. Celiac disease is estimated to affect at least 1% of the worldwide population. Over 3,000,000 people in the US may have celiac disease, but only 150,000 have been diagnosed.

Celiac disease occurs in:

• 3.9 -12.3% of people with Type 1 Diabetes
• 5 -12% of people with Down syndrome
• 20% of people with collagenous colitis
• 4.5% of first degree relatives of people with Celiac disease