Blood Test???

Hi Guys:  I would like to know if an endoscopy can ALWAYS show celiac???    I had a biopsey of the
ampulla region,  which tested negative, but can the celiac start a little further down where the
scope can not reach??
                                
Would it be worth having blood test for it??

Also if you are just gluten intolerant- what are the symptoms??  And does it mean your on your way to becoming
celiac but still have some of the villa in sm intestines???..................georgie

[PlateletGal]

Believe it or not, you can have a gluten intolerance, but not have Celiac disease.

[Soonerman]

The biopsy can show up negative if the sample is taken from an undamaged area.  There are a few tests that may be helpful:
Genetic Blood Test - Will show if you have the common Celiac Genes; can help rule out Celiacs if negative (but not an intolerance), but even if positive will just let you know that Celiacs is likely or that at some point you will become allergic to gluten.

Antibodies Blood Test and/or Fecal Test - Can test for levels of antibodies present to indicate a response to gluten (must be eating gluten for a period before the test).  Also the blood test has a high chance of false negatives.

Otherwise you can eliminate gluten from your diet Completely for a month or so and if you feel better.  Reintroduction of gluten after a bit will bring back your symptoms if you have Celiac Disease.  This is always an accurate test, and may take more than a month if there is extensive damage to fully see the relief from your symptoms.