Can a biopsy confirm celiac if i have not eaten gluten for months?

[paulb44]

[Lynxcat]

Hi Paul, This will depend on many things. The damage for Coeliac is known to remain in the intestines even in a very restricted gluten free diet for up to seven years if a person has had the disease for a very long time. There may also be recurring damage if a person occasionally either accidentally or otherwise ingests gluten.

Remember also that a person with Coeliac Disease is unlikely to have damage on every part of their small intestine which ranges from the four compartments within the duodenum itself which are known as the superior, descending, horizontal, and ascending compartments. Tacked onto the duodenum are the second and third parts of the small intestine which is the middle section the jejunum and the end section the ileum. The length is individual and can range from as little as 15 feet to 32 feet any of which may be damaged. Years ago our intestines were infinitely larger but when man began to use meat as a main food source they became increasingly shorter ... then we suddenly began to eat grain rather like cows, except they have two stomachs to sort out the rough stuff with.

This may be of interest to you:

drhyman.com/blog/conditions...

[paulb44]

Nice one Lynxcat!

[coeliacvegan]

Hi Paulb44,

There seems to be conflicting opinion on this, as my doctor told me that I would need to be eating gluten daily for three months if I wanted to maximise my chances of a positive biopsy diagnosis. That said, as Lynxcat has explained, a 'successful' biopsy is also dependent on it being taken from a damaged part of the intestine, which does not always happen.

Given the potential for a false negative, you may want to reintroduce gluten prior to the test to tip the odds in your favour. Or you may just decide to take your chances. Either way, at least you'll be prepared if you don't get the result that you want.

Whatever you choose to do, I really hope it goes well.

Best of luck!

[pretender]

The area normally tested for coeliac disease is the duodenum, this has four parts my diagnosis was by reduced folds,d2.

This might be useful to some: 141.214.4.32:9862/path_test...

[loobylou123]

If you havn't been eating Gluten then it won't show the severity of the condition. Depending how bad the damage is or was it could give you a false indication. Best to stick to Gluten a good length of time before the biopsy. There are different levels and intensity depending on your own body's reaction.

[barryd]

I was also told by my GP and specialist that I must continue with a 'normal' gluten filled diet, otherwise the test results may be inconclusive.

[violetkathy]

The biopsy is unlikely to confirm coeliac if you haven't eaten gluten for months. I work as an Endoscopy nurse. We tell our patients to eat gluten for 6 to 12 weeks ( 2 gluten containing meals per day, if possible) prior to endoscopy for a conclusive result. If you are not eating gluten you are not damaging your small intestine. It is the damage to the small intestine that confirms the diagnose. So you need to be eating gluten to get a conclusive result.

[violetkathy]

The University of Chicago Celiac Disease Center

What's a gluten challenge? It's when someone who's already on a gluten-free diet eats one serving of gluten every day (1/2 slice of bread or cracker) for at least 12 weeks before a scheduled blood test or 2 weeks prior to a scheduled biopsy when seeking a clear diagnosis regarding celiac disease.

This University conducts a lot of research into coeliac disease. I follow it on facebook.