Jejunal Biopsy in Celiac Disease

When symptoms suggestive of celiac dis case have been present for over three months, irrespective of tests of absorptive function, a jejunal biopsy is indicated, but this should be preceded by at least a week of a gluten-containing diet. If severe mucosal damage is found, a gluten-free diet should be prescribed for several years, and in many cases must be continued until growth has ceased. Equivocal findings, which are most likely in the early months of the disease, call for further assessment including repeat biopsy when symptoms persist on a gluten-contain ing diet.