An update on the diagnostics of celiac disease.

In celiac disease, highly sensitive and specific serum endomysial and transglutaminase 2 antibody tests are widely used in identifying patients for diagnostic endoscopy and small-bowel biopsy. In addition, the recently developed deamidated gliadin peptide antibody tests show promise in celiac disease diagnostics. In view of these apparent problems attending the diagnostic gold standard, gluten-induced small-bowel mucosal villous atrophy with crypt hyperplasia, other diagnostic approaches beyond conventional histology have been introduced. Furthermore, the diagnostic criteria for celiac disease are currently under revision with an eye also to noninvasive diagnostic strategies.