<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> > What is the value of the biopsy? If the diet works, what further important > information could the biopsy reveal? Is there any _danger_ in _not_ > having the biopsy? The biggest danger we've encountered so far is gastroenterologists who refuse to believe they're looking at a sprue patient unless they have a positive biopsy report in their hands, even though a positive blood test and an improvement after gluten withdrawal is diagnostic. That happened to us at Stanford; the "doctors" actually told my wife to try eating a normal diet for two or three months to prove to her that it was all in her head (they didn't even examine her first). If you're at a phase where the jejunal lining is still going to be visibly damaged by gluten, you might want to go ahead and get a biopsy done just to have an absolute, rock-solid diagnosis--it could save you headaches later on. If you've already been gluten- free for several months, then go ahead and ask your doctor about it, but he or she probably won't think it's urgent. eh