Diagnosing Celiac Disease

Diagnosing celiac disease can be quite challenging for physicians as the clinical symptoms are tremendously variable and mimic a number of other diseases. This leads to a situation where more than 97% of celiac patients are left undiagnosed. The first step to the diagnosis of celiac disease requires testing for the presence of very specific antibodies against different celiac biomarkers. Only celiac patients exposed to gluten in their day-to-day diet develop an immune response against the celiac biomarkers. These analyses are usually performed by drawing blood and shipping the sample to a specialized laboratory. Unfortunately, this procedure takes time and results are not immediately available.
To help physicians screen out celiac disease, Augurix now provides a new tool: Simtomax^® rapid test is as accurate as the laboratory analyses. It delivers immediate results and allows faster counseling and treatment in the timeframe of only one consultation.
If the screening tests come out positive with the presence of celiac antibodies, a small bowel biopsy is usually performed to confirm the diagnosis. Small pieces of the intestine are collected for analysis through a procedure called endoscopy. A long, thin tube is introduced through the mouth and stomach down to the small bowel. Evidence of damage to the intestinal structure provides a definite diagnosis of celiac disease.