Don't start a gluten free diet until you have seen a gastroenterologist.
You will need blood work to start and possibly an endoscopy. If you have been on a strict gluten free diet for a while, then the serologies and biopsies from your small intestine can be falsely negative (you have celiac disease but your tests are negative because you are on a gluten free diet).
A genetic test can be done while on a gluten free diet. This test is only helpful if it is negative, as a negative result essentially rules out celiac disease. About 30% of the population are positive for the genetic test but this alone does not establish a diagnosis. The National Institutes of Health report that only 3% of those with the genes (HLA DQ2 or DQ8) actually get celiac disease.
If you have started a gluten free diet already and want to know if you truly have celiac disease, talk to your gastroenterologist about doing a gluten challenge. #celiac disease #gluten free
Comments