How to Diagnose Celiac Disease

Celiac disease relates to the intestine’s intolerance towards gluten. An early diagnosis of the disease can protect the small intestine from further damage and prevent other celiac-related ailments like bone weakness, tooth enamel loss, and digestive organ disorders.

When testing an individual for celiac disease, a physician will:

• Question the patient about his or her medical history; celiac disease is a hereditary genetic disorder.
• Collect information about a patient’s symptoms; common symptoms of the disease include diarrhea or constipation, abdominal bloating and cramps, general weakness, and weight loss.
• Perform certain blood tests that help to identify celiac disease. Tests may be done to measure any of the following: Albumin levels, alkaline phosphatase levels, clotting factor abnormalities, cholesterol, blood count, liver enzymes, and prothrombin time. If these tests signal a positive diagnosis, a physician will order antibody tests.
• If antibody tests point to the presence of celiac disease, an upper endoscopy is usually performed to biopsy a piece of tissue from the first part of the small intestine, the duodenum. The biopsy may show flattened villi, or hair-like structures that help absorb nutrients, in parts of the intestine below the duodenum.
• A doctor will prescribe a gluten-free diet for those diagnosed with celiac disease. Gluten-free foods have recently become very popular and easily accessible.

For more information on celiac disease, see below:

Celiac Disease Common in Kids With Type 1 Diabetes