Hi Muriel,
Many gastros & pathologists still insist upon seeing flat villi prior to
diagnosing celiac disease, in spite of many, many reports in the literature
that with just a small increase of gluten in the diet, and/or more time,
this will develop into a condition with patches of flat villi.

The sadness is the rate of cancer, especially lymphoma, in untreated celiac
disease. Even in first degree relatives of celiac patients, the rates of
these malignancies are apalling, and my guess is that it is because too
many gastros don't recommend testing first degree relatives.

I hope you get relief from your autoimmune disease when you are off gluten.

Best wishes,
Ron

At 10:51 PM 7/11/97 -0400, you wrote:
>>Endomysium is the tissue that surrounds muscle fibres, to reduce friction
>        Years ago I had gastroscopy done because of my bowel and stomach
problems
>(an ulcer that is caused by milk,not bacteria).  They said the only thing
>different was some flattening of the bowel mucosa.  They said they see it
>sometimes, but don't know what it means.  I have to chuckle now. It is
>prob. a heterozygous form of celiac disease.  My Mom has been diagnosed
>with that AND fibromyalgia.  All they know about me is that I have an
>autoimmune disease that attacks smooth muscle.  Feh.
>
>