Conclusion
In the diagnosis of coeliac disease and idiopathic steatorrhoea, jejunal biopsy is essential. The changes are characteristic and, in several series of patients, no untreated patient with a diagnosis of coeliac disease has been shown to have a normal biopsy (Rubin and others, 1960; Cameron, Astley, Hallowell, Rawson, Miller, French and Hubble, 1962). There is no doubt that the mucosa tends to return towards normal if the patient is given a strict gluten free diet (Anderson, 1960). There are also characteristic appearances of a few other rare conditions which present with malabsorption. Jejunal biopsy, which is comparatively simple and safe to perform, is thus essential in the investigation of any malabsorption syndrome both in childhood and in adult life.
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Bueman, D. Jejunal biopsy. Ir. J. Med. Sc. 38, 433–438 (1963). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02951613
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02951613