Can gluten sensitivity cause chronic diarrhea?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have been suffering from chronic diarrhea for four years, so I am underweight. I have got a stool test for calprotectin and a test for CRP level. Both are normal. I have also tested for anti-tTG-IgA, which is negative, and normal serum IgA.

Now I have stopped taking gluten-containing food from my diet, and my diarrhea has disappeared. Do I have gluten sensitivity or any other problem? Do I need to get further testing for celiac disease?

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I have read your concern in detail and will surely help you out. Since you have responded to a gluten-free diet, I will strongly keep the possibility of coeliac disease in your case. In any other illness, a gluten-free diet does not improve diarrhea.

Anti-tTG (anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies) is of two types; IgA and IgG. You may have any of these two. Hence IgG testing is also required. But these antibody tests are less reliable as they can be falsely negative, that is patients may have celiac disease, but antibodies are still negative.

The gold standard investigation that will confirm the diagnosis is colonoscopy and intestinal biopsy.

So I will suggest you get a colonoscopy and biopsy test.

Hope this helps.

Kindly revert in case of further queries.