Histological changes associated with wheat protein antibodies in the absence of villous atrophy.
A retrospective study was conducted to assess the association of alpha-gliadin antibodies with intraepithelial lymphocyte counts. Twelve subjects with apparently normal small intestinal histology and raised alpha-gliadin antibody titres had significantly increased intraepithelial lymphocyte counts (42 (SEM) 5.9) when compared with 16 subjects with normal alpha-gliadin antibody titres (17 (3.2); p less than 0.001). These findings show that in the absence of gross pathology raised alpha-gliadin antibody titres are associated with increased numbers of intraepithelial lymphocytes and may reflect continuous immunological processes in the small intestine.
O'Farrelly
C
C
Department of Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.
Graeme-Cook
F
F
Hourihane
D O
DO
Feighery
C
C
Weir
D G
DG
D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005903:Gliadin / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000906:Antibodies; D010940:Plant Proteins; D005903:Gliadin