What Genetic Testing Can Tell You About Celiac Disease

Celiac disease – a severe allergic reaction to gluten – is a hereditary condition that is often passed down from parents to their children. If you are diagnosed with celiac disease, your doctor may advise your first degree relatives to look into genetic testing. This can determine if your family members are also carrying the disease and if they are at-risk of developing it in the future. Today, the genetic testing experts at Dynamic DNA Labs dig a little deeper into the issue and look at the genetics behind gluten allergies.

Celiac Disease and Genetics

Like many diseases, people who are diagnosed with celiac disease typically carry similar genes. The disease is inherited from either your mother or father and written into your genetic code. Generally, most patients with celiac disease will carry one particular gene known as HLA DR3-DQ2.5. If you have the disease, you may either have one or two copies of this gene on a strand of DNA. Other people with celiac disease will have a gene call HLA DR4-DQ8.
Of course, having these particular genes does not necessarily mean you have the disease. In fact, you may never develop it in your lifetime. These genes are simply common amongst people with gluten allergies. If you have one of two copies of a gene like HLA DR3-DQ2.5, you may have an increased chance of a celiac diagnosis.

Genetic Testing for Celiac Disease

Because the disease is hereditary, physicians usually recommend genetic testing to first-degree family members (siblings, parents, and children). The information you receive from genetic testing can be incredibly valuable. First, if the test results come back negative, you know that you will not develop the disease later in the life – a huge weight off your shoulders. If the results are positive, you know if you are at-risk of developing the disease. It is recommended that people will positive test results undergo celiac antibody test every two to three years.

Symptoms of Celiac Disease

If you think that you or your child has celiac disease, you should see a doctor as soon as possible. Symptoms of the disease include abdominal pain, chronic diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss, and bone pain. Celiac disease can be incredibly painful and unpleasant. If you test positive for celiac disease with your doctor, you should adopt a gluten-free diet as soon as possible.

Contact Dynamic DNA Labs

At Dynamic DNA Labs, we offer a wide-range of genetic testing services, including DNA fitness testing, ethnicity testing, paternity testing, and medical DNA testing. If you are diagnosed with celiac disease, contact Dynamic DNA Labs to set up a medical DNA test for your family.