OBJECTIVES: In patients with signs and symptoms of malabsorption, suggestive of gluten-sensitive enteropathy, small intestinal biopsies sometimes only reveal infiltration of lymphocytes into the mucosal epithelium. This infiltrative lesion (Marsh I) is not a definite proof for gluten-sensitive enteropathy. However, in the present study, we aimed to show that a subgroup of these patients could ultimately be identified as being gluten sensitive. METHODS: A total of 38 patients with a Marsh I lesion were subjected to a gluten challenge comprising 30 g of gluten added daily to a normal gluten-containing diet for 8 wk. Before and after the challenge, small intestinal biopsies were taken, and symptoms and signs of malabsorption were scored. RESULTS: In 12 patients we demonstrated a significant change in mucosal histopathology, i.e., subtotal villous atrophy (Marsh IIIB, n = 1), partial villous atrophy (Marsh 3A, n = 6) or infiltrative-crypthyperplastic lesions (Marsh II, n = 5). In the other 26 patients, the small intestinal mucosa remained unchanged. After initiation of a gluten-free diet, follow-up small intestinal biopsies in 12 patients who initially had progressive mucosal pathology after gluten challenge showed normalization of mucosal pathology in seven cases, regression to a Marsh I lesion in four, and to a Marsh II lesion in one. Symptom relief was seen in all 12 patients. Ten of 26 patients without histological response to the gluten challenge were motivated to adhere to a gluten-free diet. Follow-up biopsies revealed unchanged Marsh I lesions in eight patients and normalization (Marsh 0) in two patients. Three patients had follow-up biopsies while on a normal diet. All had unchanged Marsh I lesions. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study we demonstrated that a gluten challenge might be useful in identifying patients as being sensitive to gluten if initial small intestinal biopsies reveal only minor abnormalities.
OBJECTIVES: In patients with signs and symptoms of malabsorption, suggestive of gluten-sensitive enteropathy, small intestinal biopsies sometimes only reveal infiltration of lymphocytes into the mucosal epithelium. This infiltrative lesion (Marsh I) is not a definite proof for gluten-sensitive enteropathy. However, in the present study, we aimed to show that a subgroup of these patients could ultimately be identified as being gluten sensitive. METHODS: A total of 38 patients with a Marsh I lesion were subjected to a gluten challenge comprising 30 g of gluten added daily to a normal gluten-containing diet for 8 wk. Before and after the challenge, small intestinal biopsies were taken, and symptoms and signs of malabsorption were scored. RESULTS: In 12 patients we demonstrated a significant change in mucosal histopathology, i.e., subtotal villous atrophy (Marsh IIIB, n = 1), partial villous atrophy (Marsh 3A, n = 6) or infiltrative-crypthyperplastic lesions (Marsh II, n = 5). In the other 26 patients, the small intestinal mucosa remained unchanged. After initiation of a gluten-free diet, follow-up small intestinal biopsies in 12 patients who initially had progressive mucosal pathology after gluten challenge showed normalization of mucosal pathology in seven cases, regression to a Marsh I lesion in four, and to a Marsh II lesion in one. Symptom relief was seen in all 12 patients. Ten of 26 patients without histological response to the gluten challenge were motivated to adhere to a gluten-free diet. Follow-up biopsies revealed unchanged Marsh I lesions in eight patients and normalization (Marsh 0) in two patients. Three patients had follow-up biopsies while on a normal diet. All had unchanged Marsh I lesions. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study we demonstrated that a gluten challenge might be useful in identifying patients as being sensitive to gluten if initial small intestinal biopsies reveal only minor abnormalities.
Authors: Greetje J Tack; Jolanda M W van de Water; Maaike J Bruins; Engelina M C Kooy-Winkelaar; Jeroen van Bergen; Petra Bonnet; Anita C E Vreugdenhil; Ilma Korponay-Szabo; Luppo Edens; B Mary E von Blomberg; Marco W J Schreurs; Chris J Mulder; Frits Koning Journal: World J Gastroenterol Date: 2013-09-21 Impact factor: 5.742
Authors: Amani Mubarak; Victorien M Wolters; Roderick H J Houwen; Fiebo J W ten Kate Journal: World J Gastroenterol Date: 2015-06-28 Impact factor: 5.742
Authors: Marlou P M Adriaanse; Daniel A Leffler; Ciaran P Kelly; Detlef Schuppan; Robert M Najarian; Jeffrey D Goldsmith; Wim A Buurman; Anita C E Vreugdenhil Journal: Am J Gastroenterol Date: 2016-05-17 Impact factor: 10.864
Authors: F Biagi; O Luinetti; J Campanella; C Klersy; C Zambelli; V Villanacci; A Lanzini; G R Corazza Journal: J Clin Pathol Date: 2004-08 Impact factor: 3.411