Gastroenterological Society of Australia
Recommendations from the Gastroenterological Society of Australia on colonoscopies, fecal occult blood testing, proton pump inhibitors, coeliac disease & endoscopy. The Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA) sets, promotes and continuously improves the standards of practice, training and research in gastroenterology and hepatology in Australia.
4.
Do not undertake genetic testing for coeliac genes as a screening test for coeliac disease
The value of testing for coeliac genes is primarily as a negative test – if the gene test is negative then coeliac disease may be excluded. However as a coeliac gene can be found in approximately one third of the population, a positive result does not make coeliac disease a certainty. Serological testing, in a patient consuming an appropriate amount of gluten, is the appropriate first line screening test for coeliac disease. A small bowel biopsy is then required if serology is positive.
Supporting evidence
- Fasano A, Catassi C. Celiac disease. N Engl J Med 2012; 367:2419-26.
- Megiorni F, Pizutti A. HLA-DQA1 and HLA-DQB1 in Celiac disease predisposition: practical implications of the HLA molecular typing. J Biomed Sci 2012;19:88.
How this list was made
The Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA) initially engaged its members through its regular online communications, sharing the aims of the EVOLVE initiative, as well as background information on the US and Canadian versions of Choosing Wisely. Members were provided with a copy of the five recommendations made by the American Gastroenterology Association. GESA also consulted externally, with the EVOLVE Lead Fellow addressing the GUT club and the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Group on the initiative. All members of GESA were invited to submit proposed items for the Top 5 list. The GESA Council reviewed all items before reaching consensus on the recommended final list. A review of the evidence for the shortlisted items was then undertaken and the final list and its rationales were signed off by the GESA Council in May 2016.
- 1 Do not repeat colonoscopies more often than recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) endorsed guidelines
- 2 Do not undertake faecal occult blood testing in patients who report rectal bleeding, or require investigation for iron deficiency or gastrointestinal symptoms
- 3 Do not continue prescribing long term proton pump inhibitor (PPI) medication to patients without attempting to reduce the medication down to the lowest effective dose or cease the therapy altogether
- 4 Do not undertake genetic testing for coeliac genes as a screening test for coeliac disease
- 5 Do not perform a follow-up endoscopy less than three years after two consecutive findings of no dysplasia from endoscopies with appropriate four quadrant biopsies for patients diagnosed with Barrett’s Oesophagus.