Is There a Need to Undertake Conventional Gastroscopy and Biopsy When Making the Diagnosis of Coeliac Disease in Adults?

Abstract

Celiac disease is a common autoimmune condition characterized by small intestinal inflammation and mucosal damage triggered by an inappropriate immune response to ingested gluten. Gastroscopy and duodenal biopsy are currently the gold standard approach to diagnosing celiac disease in adults. However, the emergence of highly accurate serological tests for celiac disease in the last 2 decades led to a change in the pediatric guidelines to diagnose celiac disease without biopsy in selected patients. Adopting this no-biopsy approach to diagnose celiac disease in adults remains controversial, but the evidence supporting it is growing.