[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 46 (Tuesday, March 9, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11029-11030]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5221]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


Consensus Development Conference on Celiac Disease; Notice

    Notice is hereby given of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) 
Consensus Development Conference on ``Celiac Disease'' to be held June 
28-30, 2004, in the NIH Natcher Conference Center, 45 Center Drive, 
Bethesda, Maryland 20892. The conference will begin at 8:30 a.m. on 
June 28 and 29, and at 9 a.m. on June 30, and will be open to the 
public.
    Celiac disease is a disorder primarily affecting the 
gastrointestinal tract that is characterized by chronic inflammation of 
the mucosa, which leads to atrophy of intestinal villi, malabsorption, 
and protean clinical manifestations which may begin either in childhood 
or adult life. Symptoms can include abdominal cramping, bloating, and 
distention, and untreated celiac disease may lead to vitamin and 
mineral deficiencies, osteoporosis and other problems.
    At the present time, celiac disease is widely considered to be a 
rare disease in the United States. However, recent studies, primarily 
in Europe but also in the United States, suggest that its prevalence is 
much higher than previous estimates, raising the concern that the 
disease is widely under-recognized. Recent progress in identification 
of autoantigens in celiac disease have led to the development of new 
serological diagnostic tests, but the appropriate use of testing 
strategies has not been well defined. Some patients with celiac disease 
may be at risk for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a rare cancer affecting the 
gastrointestinal tract. It is not yet clear, however, what the impact 
of this observation should be on diagnostic and treatment strategies.
    This tow-and-a-half-day conference will examine the current state 
of knowledge regarding celiac disease and identify directions for 
future research.
    During the first day-and-a-half of the conference, experts will 
present the latest research findings on celiac disease to an 
independent panel. After weighing all of the scientific evidence, the 
panel will draft a statement, addressing the following key questions:
--How is celiac disease diagnosed?
--How prevalent is celiac disease?
--What are the manifestations and long-term consequences of celiac 
disease?
--Who should be tested for celiac disease?
--What is the management of celiac disease?
--What are the recommendations for future research on celiac disease 
and related conditions?
    On the final day of the conference, the panel chairperson will read 
the draft statement to the conference audience and invite comments and 
questions. A press conference will follow, to allow the panel and 
chairperson to respond to questions from the media.
    The primary sponsors of this meeting are the National Institute of 
Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the NIH Office of 
Medical Applications of Research.
    Advance information about the conference and conference 
registration materials may be obtained from American Institutes for 
Research of Silver Spring, Maryland, by calling 888-644-2667, or by 
sending e-mailing to [email protected]. American Institutes for Research's 
mailing address is 10720 Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD, 20901. 
Registration information is also available on the NIH consensus 
Development Program Web site at http://consensus.nih.gov.
    Please Note: The NIH has recently instituted new security measures 
to ensure the safety of NIH employees and property. All visitors must 
be prepared to show a photo ID upon request. Visitors may be required 
to pass through a metal detector and have bags, backpacks, or purses 
inspected or x-rayed as they enter NIH buildings. For

[[Page 11030]]

more information about the new security measures at NIH, please visit 
the Web site at http://www.nih.gov/about/visitorssecurity.htm.

    Dated: March 2, 2004.
Raynard S. Kington,
Deputy Director, National Institutes of Health.
[FR Doc. 04-5221 Filed 3-8-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-M