Coeliac Society of Victoria

Coeliac and Related Conditions

Other conditions such as type 1 diabetes mellitus, thyroid, liver conditions, down syndrome, chronic fatigue, Sjogrens disease, stunted growth, late puberty, dental enamel defects, delayed eruption of teeth, canker sores, lupus and infertility are thought to have an association with coeliac disease.

The prevalence of coeliac disease may be as high as 1 in 100, but only 10-20% of individuals with the disease are currently diagnosed.

Both environmental and genetic factors play a role in the development of coeliac disease. The disease almost exclusively affects people with the genes HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ8, but only 1 in 20-50 people with this gene actually develop coeliac disease. Environmental factors may be responsible for triggering the development of the disease in those with the gene.