Colorado Center for Celiac Disease

At the Colorado Center for Celiac Disease, we evaluate and treat children and adolescents with suspected or known celiac disease and gluten-related disorders. We also help with screening and management of children with a family history or increased genetic risk of celiac disease due to other conditions such as type 1 diabetes or Down syndrome.

About the Colorado Center for Celiac Disease

We welcome any patients looking for second opinions or referrals of complex cases. Whether a family needs help managing a gluten-free diet or is seeking consultation for a child with possible celiac disease, our care team will create a personalized care plan specific to each child and their individual and family needs.

Our comprehensive care includes:

• A team of committed physicians with extensive experience in celiac disease and gluten-related disorders
• Screening for individuals at risk for celiac disease, including genetic testing if needed
• Autoantibody screening and monitoring of potential complications from celiac disease
• Genetic testing when needed
• Education and nutritional counseling resources for a gluten-free diet
• Possibility of participating in research studies
• Resources for families with celiac disease, including educational seminars and a growing support system
• Educational seminars for physicians
• Evaluation of challenging or complex cases and referrals

Psychological support

In addition to medical and dietary treatment, we offer consultation with a pediatric psychologist. Our psychologist will work with your family to problem solve, brainstorm and develop coping strategies for dealing with psychological and emotional challenges associated with celiac disease and the transition to a gluten-free lifestyle.

When you arrive at the Center, we’ll ask you to complete paperwork about your child. We use this information to understand how your child is doing physically, emotionally, socially and in school. If the celiac team notices any concerns in these areas, they may suggest that you meet with the psychologist.

If we do not proactively offer our psychological support services to you, you are more than welcome to request this service when you schedule your child’s next appointment. You can also notify the medical assistant or nurse when you arrive for an appointment.

During a visit with the psychologist, we'll review the impact that celiac disease has on your child and family and work together to develop strategies to cope with any challenges related to celiac disease. The psychologist and celiac team may provide you with referrals for additional services if necessary.

We encourage you to be open with your psychologist about the following:

• Coping at the time of medical diagnosis and throughout treatment
• Difficulties with your child’s and family’s adjustment to the diagnosis
• Challenges your family may be facing with maintaining a gluten-free diet
• School and social stressors
• Emotional or behavioral obstacles
• Developmental or learning difficulties

We also understand that different challenges may arise for children and adolescents as they grow. Our psychologist is available to work with children and families throughout childhood, adolescence and young adulthood.

Why choose us for celiac disease care

The Colorado Center for Celiac Disease is the first of its kind in the Rocky Mountain region and one of only a handful of programs in the nation focusing solely on pediatric celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. We're setting the standard for multidisciplinary care of children with celiac disease and gluten-related disorders by focusing on the unique needs of the pediatric population and each individual patient and family.

Our clinical team provides comprehensive services including a variety of screening methods, genetic testing, diagnostic procedures and long-term health management. Registered dietitians with special expertise in celiac disease support patients and their families by providing education regarding the gluten-free diet and its various challenges, including an introductory gluten-free class that is offered to all patients upon diagnosis or when they need a review.

We have a dedicated psychologist who specializes in celiac disease who meets with families after diagnosis of celiac disease or when a child or adolescent is having difficulty adjusting to their diagnosis. Social workers are also available to all of our patients and families for assistance with any of the day-to-day issues that can arise, including possible challenges with school or college. We work with families to set up a Section 504 plan with their school to ensure the school is providing appropriate accommodations for their child.

Our Center works closely with programs serving other related disorders, allowing us to facilitate the early screening and detection of celiac disease and gluten sensitivity in children with conditions like type 1 diabetes and Down syndrome.

We also are proud to partner with advocacy or support groups and local businesses in the community to offer a wide range of support to our patients and their families even when they are outside the doors of Children’s Colorado.

Research

In order to remain as leaders in the field, research is an essential component of the Center. Collaborations with the Barbara Davis Center involve the DAISY (Diabetes and Autoimmunity Study of the Young), TEDDY (The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young) and ASK (Autoimmunity Screening for Kids) studies, which screen children for type 1 diabetes, celiac disease and other autoimmune conditions.

We are also working with a national consortium of other pediatric celiac disease centers to provide better care for our celiac disease patients, starting with an online questionnaire that can be used before clinic to assess patients’ and families’ adherence to and knowledge of the gluten-free diet.

Other specific interests of the Center include behavioral health and wellness, quality of life, adherence to a gluten-free diet, expanding telemedicine for celiac disease education, genetic risk factors and autoantibody diagnostic testing for celiac disease. With the development of new therapies currently being tested in adults with celiac disease, we're poised to run such clinical trials that include children in the near future.

Learn more about research at the Digestive Health Institute.

Who we treat at the Colorado Center for Celiac Disease

We evaluate and treat:

• Children with suspected celiac disease, or those needing evaluation of gluten intolerance
• Children with a family history of celiac disease

We also provide:

• Long-term management of children with known celiac disease
• Counseling for family members of children with celiac disease

Contact the Colorado Center for Celiac Disease

For appointments at Anschutz Medical Campus or South Campus, call 720-777-6669 or email CeliacCenter@childrenscolorado.org.