Doesn't Gluten Challenge Potentially Cause More Damage?

[heliosue]

If one has celiac (or thinks so), wouldn't going back on gluten for a period of several weeks before testing cause additional damage to the small intestine?

 

Thanks.

[ravenwoodglass]

Yes. That is the whole purpose of the challenge.  To be diagnosed doctors need to be able to find antibodies in the blood and damage to the intestinal villi. If you are not eating gluten then antibody levels go down.  Unfortunately even with the specifity of the newer celiac blood tests many doctors will feel they need to see a positive biopsy before they will diagnose even with positive blood work. 

[Tricia7]

Recommendations vary by doctor.  Granted it's always best to get tested before going gluten free, however many times doctors don't even consider celiac or gluten issues so people try on their own and have a good response to being gluten free.

 

Some doctors will advise you to go back on gluten for testing, others feel the risk of permanent damage and complications are too great.   It can be a hard decision that you need to research and talk with your doctor about.

[heliosue]

Recommendations vary by doctor.  Granted it's always best to get tested before going gluten free, however many times doctors don't even consider celiac or gluten issues so people try on their own and have a good response to being gluten free.

 

Some doctors will advise you to go back on gluten for testing, others feel the risk of permanent damage and complications are too great.   It can be a hard decision that you need to research and talk with your doctor about.

Thanks, Tricia.  It was the possibility of doing permanent damage that I was wondering about.