The single most important risk factor for celiac disease is having a first-degree relative with already-defined celiac disease,
particularly a sibling. A rate up to 20% or more has been noted.
World J Gastroenterol 2010 April 21; 16(15): 1828-1831
The prevalence of Celiac Disease has increased five-fold overall since 1974. This increase was not due to increased sensitivity of testing,but rather due to an increasing number of subjects that lost the immunological tolerance to gluten in their adulthood. Ann Med. 2010 Oct;42(7):530-8
The incidence of Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) in 85 consecutive patients with Celiac Disease was 35%. Iron-deficient anemia was also present in 4 out of 10. Six months of a gluten-free diet improved RLS symptoms in 50%. Dig Dis Sci. 2010 Jun;55(6):1667-73
