Coeliac Australia advocates for the over 340,000 Australians with coeliac disease. Over 80% of them are currently undiagnosed. Untreated coeliac disease can cause long-term health complications including osteoporosis and some cancers.
Role of pathology in coeliac disease
Blood tests and biopsies performed by pathology can effectively diagnose coeliac disease. The condition can then be managed by adopting a gluten-free diet. Accurate diagnosis of coeliac disease is essential for improving the quality of life of people with coeliac disease.
Erin’s story
Dr Erin Murphy, an emergency registrar based in Bendigo, knows professionally and personally the importance of pathology in diagnosing and treating patients. Erin has coeliac disease, a condition where the body produces an inappropriate immune reaction to gluten which causes inflammation and damage to the small intestine.
