Abstract Background and Objectives: Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic autoimmune condition resulting in malabsorption of ingested nutrients with increased risk of malignancy. The current long-term definitive treatment of CD is following a gluten-free diet (GFD). Strict adherence to GFD for the treatment of CD has been found to be difficult for patients with strict GFD being shown to increase the risk of hyperglycemia and fatty liver disease. Pharmaceutical clinical trials are ongoing for the development of novel medications for the treatment of CD. We aimed in this study to assess the level of awareness and acceptance of CD patients living in Saudi Arabia to receive novel pharmacological treatments once they become available in the near future. Methods: Online-based validated questionnaire distributed electronically among Saudi population through CD patient’s support group over a period of 2 months. Statistical analysis was done through the use of RStudio software. Results: Out of 245 questionnaire participants, 37% were aware of ongoing pharmaceutical trials. Statistically significant, male and single patients were more accepting to take novel CD medications with clear preference for orally administered medications. Conclusion: Given low patient awareness among studied Saudi CD patient participants and high-interest to use novel CD pharmacological treatments once made available internationally, further efforts should be made by specialists treating CD patients in Saudi Arabia to increase overall awareness regarding nondietary based long-term definitive pharmacological treatments under development. The development of definitive long-term CD pharmacological treatments is likely to enhance patient adherence to CD treatment and enhance disease outcome.
Mubarak et al. (Wed,) studied this question.