Variability of Histologic Lesions in Relation to Biopsy Site in Gluten-Sensitive Enteropathy

Abstract

Mucosal atrophy is present in 85% of patients with CD and total VA is significantly more frequent in distal duodenum or proximal jejunum. Fifty percent of patients have identical VA throughout the duodenum and no duodenal areas are histologically normal. In genetically susceptible children with positive serology, a diagnosis of CD can reliably be made even if biopsies are not taken from the distal duodenum or jejunum.