[Diagnostic value of the histological examination in gluten-sensitive enteropathy]

At 42 children with malabsorption syndrome 65 peroral intestinal biopsies have been taken. In 7 cases three consecutive biopsies - at the onset of symptoms (1.), after gluten withdrawal (2.) and after reintroduction of gluten (3.) - were obtained. In 3 cases two biopsies, the (2.) and the (3.) were examined. On the basis of the clinico-morphological analysis of 27 biopsies gluten sensitive enteropathy was diagnosed in 6 cases. In 4 cases the reaction of the intestinal mucosa on withdrawal and reintroduction of gluten indicated transient gluten intolerance. As an effect of the dietary treatment introduced according to the morphological alterations of intestinal mucosa normal development of children started. Authors believe that the diagnosis of the gluten sensitive enteropathy and it's differentiation from the transient gluten intolerance should be based on the morphological examination of the intestinal mucosa.