Gluten challenge in borderline gluten-sensitive enteropathy

Am J Gastroenterol. 2001 May;96(5):1464-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2001.03812.x.

Abstract

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.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies / analysis
  • Biopsy
  • Celiac Disease / diet therapy
  • Celiac Disease / immunology
  • Celiac Disease / pathology*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Female
  • Gliadin / immunology
  • Glutens / administration & dosage*
  • Glutens / pharmacology
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Mucosa / drug effects
  • Intestinal Mucosa / pathology
  • Intestine, Small / drug effects
  • Intestine, Small / pathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Muscles / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies
  • Glutens
  • Gliadin