Low gluten diet in the treatment of adult coeliac disease: effect on jejunal morphology and serum anti-gluten antibodies.
Treatment of patients with coeliac disease with a low gluten containing diet (LGD) remains controversial. We have studied jejunal morphology and antigluten (AG) antibody titres by ELISA in patients on a LGD of 2.5-5 g/day for three to 14 months (median six months) and compared results with patients on a strict gluten free diet (GFD) for six to 27 months (median 13 months). We found no significant difference in villous height or crypt depth (eight LGD v 10 GFD patients) or serum AG-IgA, -IgG, and IgM titres (13 LGD v 12 GFD patients). there was however, a significant increase (p less than 0.05) in intra-epithelial lymphocytes in those patients on a LGD. We conclude that adult coeliac patients can tolerate a LGD without gross morphological change and without initiating significant AG antibody responses.
Montgomery
A M
AM
Department of Gastroenterology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London.
Goka
A K
AK
Kumar
P J
PJ
Farthing
M J
MJ
Clark
M L
ML
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005983:Glutens / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D007583:Jejunum / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000906:Antibodies; D005983:Glutens