Gluten-sensitive enteropathyl?

Dear Ask The Doctor: My blood work showed signs of sprue, but my biopsy came back negative for Celiac Disease... I was told that this means I still have a gluten sensitivity so I've been on a gluten free diet since March. I felt wonderful up until a few weeks ago when my intestinal pains returned. My doctor now has me taking fiber as well and I'm not so sure any of this makes sense. They feel exactly like the pains I was experiencing before, so how can they have two different causes? And is there a chance that I don't have a gluten sensitivity after all?

Dear Katie: Celiac Sprue, or  Celiac Disease , also known as  gluten-sensitive enteropathy or gluten-induced enteropathy, is a chronic disease of the intestines that interferes with the absorption of nutrients from food. People with celiac sprue have Gluten intolerance, (gluten is a protein found in wheat, rye, barley). When people with Sprue eat foods with gluten, the lining  of the intestines, gets damaged due to the body's immune reaction. The lining of the intestine has essential enzymes for digestion and absorption, its destruction causes a problem in absorption of nutrients from food. Tipically , people with celiac sprue  improve  when they follow on a strict, gluten-free diet and relapse if  gluten is reintroduced. So,if you are now under a gluten-free diet and still you are having abdominal pain and/or diarrhea, probably the gluten is not the cause of your symptoms, besides, you have a negative biopsy for a Celiac disease, and a non-conclusive blood work signs of Sprue, maybe would be advisable that your PCP might work along with a specialist (gastroenterologist) to rule out some other causes for your intestinal problems.