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Diagnosis. Upper endoscopy Enlarge image. During an upper endoscopy, a healthcare professional inserts a thin, flexible tube equipped with a light and camera down the throat and into the esophagus. The tiny camera provides a view of the esophagus, stomach and the beginning of the small intestine, called the duodenum.
There are two steps to finding out if you have celiac disease: screening and diagnosis. You should always consult with a physician experienced with celiac disease to ensure proper diagnosis.
The only way to confirm a celiac disease diagnosis is to have an intestinal biopsy. A pathologist will assign a Modified Marsh Type to the biopsy findings. A Type of 3 indicates symptomatic celiac disease. However, Types 1 and 2 may also indicate celiac disease.
If coeliac disease antibodies are found in your blood, the GP will refer you to a doctor who specialises in stomach and bowel conditions (gastroenterologist). The specialist may arrange more blood tests, or a biopsy of your intestine.
A simple blood test is available to screen for celiac disease. People with celiac disease who eat gluten have higher than normal levels of certain antibodies in their blood. These antibodies are produced by the immune system because it views gluten as a threat.
Celiac disease is an illness caused by an immune reaction to eating gluten. Gluten is a protein found in foods containing wheat, barley or rye. If you have celiac disease, eating gluten triggers an immune response to the gluten protein in your small intestine.
To diagnose celiac disease, healthcare providers will look for evidence of this damage. It’s important to get tested for celiac disease before you try a gluten-free diet, so the tests can reveal how gluten actually affects your body. Once you begin avoiding gluten, your gut will begin to heal.
