What is celiac disease?

Celiac disease is a digestive disorder caused by an abnormal immune reaction to gluten.

Celiac disease is also known as: sprue, nontropical sprue, gluten-sensitive enteropathy

How is celiac disease diagnosed?

Diagnosis begins with a physical examination and a medical history.Doctors will also perform various tests to help confirm a diagnosis. People with celiac disease often have high levels of antiendomysium (EMA) and anti-tissue transglutaminase (tTGA) antibodies. These can be detected with blood tests. Tests are most reliable when they’re performed while gluten is still in the diet.

Common blood tests include:

• complete blood count (CBC)
• liver function tests
• cholesterol test
• alkaline phosphatase level test
• serum albumin test

In people with DH, a skin biopsy can also help doctors diagnose celiac disease. During a skin biopsy, the doctor will remove tiny pieces of skin tissue for examination with a microscope. If the skin biopsy and blood test results indicate celiac disease, an internal biopsy may not be necessary.

In cases where blood test or skin biopsy results are inconclusive, an upper endoscopy can be used to test for celiac disease. During an upper endoscopy, a thin tube called an endoscope is threaded through the mouth and down into the small intestines. A small camera attached to the endoscope allows the doctor to examine the intestines and to check for damage to the villi. The doctor can also perform an intestinal biopsy, which involves the removal of a tissue sample from the intestines for analysis.