Celiac Disease Vaccine
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Considerations
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The only proven treatment for celiac disease is a gluten-free diet that eliminates foods containing wheat, barley, and rye, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
Testing
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In April 2009, Australian researchers began an 11-month trial of a celiac disease vaccine. Already successful in mice, the human vaccine involves repeated injections of gluten solutions in increasing concentration to desensitize 40 volunteers to gluten.
Follow-Up
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In the second phase of the human trial, researchers will give the volunteers increasing amounts of gluten while monitoring their immune responses and any intestinal damage.
Expert Insight
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Lead researcher Dr. Bob Anderson, a medical doctor, believes that repeated exposure to gluten will reduce or even eliminate the toxic reaction that people with celiac disease experience.
Significance
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Even when people eliminate virtually all gluten from their diets, they are still at risk for complications of intestinal damage, including cancer. A vaccine that eliminates the destructive effect of celiac disease would promote health and quality of life, according to Celiac.com.
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