A 19-year-old woman presents with tiredness and iron deficiency anaemia. She reports intermittent diarrhoea, abdominal bloating and weight loss. There...

Question

A 19-year-old woman presents with tiredness and iron deficiency anaemia. She reports intermittent diarrhoea, abdominal bloating and weight loss. There is no rectal bleeding. Coeliac disease is suspected. She eats a normal gluten-containing diet. What is the single most appropriate initial investigation?

Accepted Answer

Serum IgA tissue transglutaminase antibody

Answer

HLA typing for DQ2 and DQ8

Answer

Upper GI endoscopy with duodenal biopsies without prior blood tests

Answer

Faecal calprotectin

Answer

Empirical gluten-free diet for 3 months then reassessment

uk-plab-1 MCQ (SBA): Coeliac disease