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Is a biopsy necessary for a celiac diagnosis

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Celiac Disease
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Posted 1/11/2019 6:29 PM (GMT 0)
I post on another board here but my friend was just told she has celiac and she just had blood work done and a stomach ct scan. She never had a biopsy or any other testing.

I have a relative that has celiac and her doctor told her that the only way to know for sure is with a biopsy. However she was diagnosed many years ago and I was wondering if there are new tools out there for diagnosis.

I just feel like the doctor came back with this diagnosis awfully quick. And she was not even referred to a nutritionist after which I find strange also.

Post Edited (lovinmykids) : 1/11/2019 12:08:16 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/13/2019 3:39 PM (GMT 0)
Celiac disease is still diagnosed with blood tests (antibodies) and an intestinal biopsy. A CT scan can not diagnose celiac disease because the damage to the villi is microscopic. There are reasons for not getting a biopsy and the primary reason is lack of funds or insurance. In some countries, like Canada, the wait time to get an endoscopy can be up to a year. So, those patients might opt to skip the biopsy or would be required to do a gluten challenge if they have gone gluten free. The biopsy is important because sometimes the celiac blood tests are positive due to other illnesses like Crohn’s. Intestinal damage can also be done by medicati9ns and other diseases too.

In Europe, they have been trying to diagnose based on the blood tests, genetic testing and response to diet just in children, but the best way still is to confirm with intestinal biopsies. Research the celiac disease centers and the top doctors. Read books from the library, make sure the websites you find are valid.

http://www.cureceliacdisease.org/screening/

https://www.mayocliniclabs.com/it-mmfiles/Celiac_Disease_Diagnostic_Testing_Algorithm.pdf
Posted 1/13/2019 7:38 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you
Posted 1/15/2019 5:57 AM (GMT 0)
It depends.

My son was diagnosed with celiac with the blood tests and symptoms/signs.

We chose not to have the biopsy done and he agreed to a lifelong gluten free diet.

Confirmation for us was the cessation of constipation along with his ferritin rising and his gluten antibodies lowering ( took many months)

Now He periodically has his ferritin tested.
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