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  • Jefferson Adams

    Do Flat Mucosa Always Mean Celiac Disease?

    Jefferson Adams

    By Jefferson Adams •

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    Reviewed and edited by a celiac disease expert.

    Celiac.com 06/08/2016 - Sometimes, certain cases can stand out and grab the attention of clinicians or researchers. Such is the case of a 62-year-old woman who was suffering from severe malabsorption, and diagnosed with celiac disease based on the findings of flat, small intestinal mucosa and HLA-DQ2 positivity, although celiac blood tests were negative.

    A team of researchers questioned the diagnosis, because the woman showed no clinical or histological improvement after a long period of strict gluten-free diet.


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    The research team included U Volta, MG Mumolo, G Caio, E Boschetti, R Latorre, F Giancola, P Paterini, and R De Giorgio. They variously are affiliated with the Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences at the University of Bologna, and with the Gastroenterology Unit in the Department of Gastroenterology at the University of Pisa in Italy.

    Based on the detection of enterocyte autoantibodies, the team found that the correct diagnosis for the woman was autoimmune enteropathy. After appropriate immunosuppressive treatment, the woman experienced the disappearance of all symptoms, and a complete recovery.

    Based on this case, the team notes that doctors should consider autoimmune enteropathy in the differential diagnosis of malabsorption with severe villous atrophy, including those cases with negative celiac-related serology.

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    Guest Rita

    My doctor thought I was noncompliant and I thought I was being poisoned by restaurants when I traveled. Turned out that I was allergic to Xanthan Gum -- gave me the same cramps & diarrhea as grains and gluten. I don't see this mentioned very often.

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  • About Me

    Jefferson Adams

    Jefferson Adams is Celiac.com's senior writer and Digital Content Director. He earned his B.A. and M.F.A. at Arizona State University, and has authored more than 2,500 articles on celiac disease. His coursework includes studies in science, scientific methodology, biology, anatomy, medicine, logic, and advanced research. He previously served as SF Health News Examiner for Examiner.com, and devised health and medical content for Sharecare.com. Jefferson has spoken about celiac disease to the media, including an appearance on the KQED radio show Forum, and is the editor of the book "Cereal Killers" by Scott Adams and Ron Hoggan, Ed.D.

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