Celiac Disease: Diagnosis at Laparoscopy

Abstract

A 27-year-old woman was found to have an abnormal small bowel at the time of an elective laparoscopic tubal ligation. Subsequent investigation revealed celiac disease to be the underyling cause. The changes identified are believed to reflect an increased intestinal blood flow, which has been identified in the diagnostic imaging literature to be associated with active celiac disease. Further study of this feature of celiac disease may provide additional insights into its pathophysiology.