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DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF COELIAC DISEASE IN CHILDHOOD
Author(s) -
Townley R. R. W.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1971.tb87793.x
Subject(s) - malabsorption , biopsy , medicine , disease , suction , gastroenterology , intestinal mucosa , coeliac disease , mechanical engineering , engineering
Suction biopsy of the mucosa of the small intestine is now established as a very useful aid in the diagnosis of children with clinical features suggestive of malabsorption. The procedure seems safe, and can usually be done as an out‐patient test. Morphological change in the mucosa of the small intestine, demonstrable by suction biopsy, is the most sensitive diagnostic test for cœliac disease. Intestinal biopsy may be the only investigation needed to establish a diagnosis of cœliac disease. Patients should not be treated as having cœliac disease unless the diagnosis has been confirmed by intestinal biopsy. Evidence at present suggests that patients with cœliac disease should have lifelong dietary treatment and regular medical review.