The Small Intestine Pattern in Coeliac Disease

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Abstract
1. Examination of children with coeliac disease, using a simple suspension of barium sulphate in water, resulted in flocculation of the barium within the lumen of the intestine, preventing the demonstration of the true mucosal pattern or bowel outline. A flocculated pattern was observed in both active and recovery phases of the disease. 2. When flocculation of the barium was minimised by examination with a mucus-resistant preparation, small intestinal dilatation was found to be a feature in the active stage of the condition. 3. The dilatation was found to decrease in remission or recovery and to increase again in relapse. These variations in intestinal size, shown by the “non-flocculating” preparation, could not be appreciated with a flocculating suspension. 4. The association of the findings with the gastro-intestinal disturbances in coeliac disease is discussed.
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