Guidelines for the serological and histopathological diagnosis of celiac disease.

The diagnosis of celiac disease is made on the basis of a patient’s clinical and genetic history, the finding of specific antibodies and auto-antibodies, and the evidence of histological damage revealed by a duodenal biopsy. These guidelines were written in order to provide education and guidance for the appropriate use of serological and genetic tests, and for the correct interpretation of the different histological patterns. Differing diagnostic and explanatory steps have been described so as to respond to various needs (diagnoses, monitoring, groups at risk) and according to the age of the patients. The recommendations have been based on the authors’ personal experience, medical literature, consensus reached on numerous points by the study group, and the contributions from many who participated in the discussion which followed the publication of the preliminary version of the guidelines in this same journal in 2002 and also on the website of the SIMeL. Moreover, the current version is a model of interdisciplinary work which has resulted from an effective collaboration between clinical pathologists, immunologists and surgical-pathologists.