Letter : the end of duodenal biopsies in coeliac disease?

Abstract

Dear Editors, We read with great interest the paper by Fuchs et al on serology‐ based criteria in the diagnosis of coeliac disease. The avoidance of a biopsy in diagnosis of coeliac disease has long been sought. In symptomatic children, the ESPGHAN guidelines (2012) suggest that biopsy could be avoided in symptomatic children having tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTG‐IgA) >10 × ULN, positive endomysial antibodies (EMA) and positive genetic testing. Small bowel capsule endoscopy has also been considered in diagnosis of coeliac disease. However, further studies are required to better define its role in this setting and to date it is still not an alternative to duodenal biopsies.