Coeliac sprue--new frontiers in diagnosis and role of capsule endoscopy

The diagnosis of Coeliac Disease (CD) till now was done based on histological findings and response to gluten- free diet. Recently, Serological tests like IgA anti-endomysial antibodies (AEA) IgA tissue-transglutamin (tTG), IgA antigliadin antibodies (AGA) and IgG AGA antibodies have been added to the armamentarium. Being a small bowel disorder the upper GI endoscopy and colonoscopy are not of much help. The advent of Capsule Endoscopy (CE) which scans the entire small bowel and gives highly magnified and detailed view of mucosa has facilitated the diagnosis of CD to great extent. Moreover, CE is painless, well tolerated and safe diagnostic procedure. This article presents new frontiers in diagnosis, role of capsule endoscopy, and the first case of diagnosis of CD by CE in India.