Celiac disease

Diagnosis

Mayo Clinic is a leading center for diagnosis and treatment of celiac disease. Mayo doctors often test for celiac disease in people considered at risk for it, including:

• Family members of people with celiac disease or dermatitis herpetiformis — an itchy, blistering skin condition that stems from intestinal gluten intolerance
• People with chronic diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, type 1 diabetes, premature bone disease or infertility
• People with Down syndrome or Turner syndrome

In addition to the normal blood tests and endoscopy — a procedure in which your doctor views your small intestine and takes a small tissue sample (biopsy) — Mayo specialists may recommend genetic testing for celiac disease if:

• Your blood test is negative but biopsy indicates damage to the tiny hair-like projections that line the small intestine (villi)
• You started a gluten-free diet before having a blood test for celiac disease

Celiac disease has symptoms similar to other digestive disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome, gastric ulcers, Crohn's disease, parasite infections and anemia. Mayo specialists have broad expertise in digestive diseases, and will test you for other conditions if you test negative for celiac disease.