How to diagnose coeliac?
“Coeliac disease can be difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are so variable,” she explains. “If your doctor suspects you have this condition, he or she may order blood tests to check for certain antibodies.” Some of the blood tests your doctor might order include: • anti-endomysial antibodies • anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies • anti-gliadin antibodies “If the blood test shows high levels of antibodies, you will probably need to have a biopsy taken of your small intestine to confirm the diagnosis,” she says. “A biopsy involves taking a small sample of tissue and examining it under a microscope. If you have coeliac disease, there will be evidence of damage to the lining of the small intestine.” Further blood tests to check for nutritional deficiencies may also be necessary. Your doctor may want to check whether you have a deficiency in iron, folate, vitamin B12, calcium, or vitamin D. “The worst thing a person can do is to self-diagnose, if they think they are a coeliac th
