Beyond the Duodenum: Evaluating Celiac Disease With Capsule Endoscopy

Why It Matters

Up to 30 % of adults with biopsy-confirmed celiac disease continue to exhibit symptoms despite a gluten-free diet. Patchy, distal atrophy may be to blame.

What Capsule Adds

• Visualizes villous blunting, scalloping, and ulceration throughout the jejunum and ileum.
• Detects complications such as enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma.
• Provides a baseline for assessing diet compliance.

Clinical Workflow

1. Baseline serology (tTG-IgA).
2. Capsule endoscopy to map villous health.
3. Repeat serology and, if needed, follow-up capsule after 12 months.

Key Takeaways

• Capsule imaging uncovers persistent disease beyond reach of standard biopsy sites.
• Early detection of complications improves long-term outcomes.
• Single-day, sedation-free test enhances patient adherence.