title: The diagnostic reliability of anti-endomysial antibody in celiac disease: the north Israel experience.
abstract: Assessment of anti-endomysial antibody (EMA) for the diagnosis and follow-up of celiac disease (CD) is widely accepted, but its applicability has never been investigated in Israel. We therefore investigated EMA as a diagnostic tool in a pediatric population, residing in the northern part of Israel, with suspected celiac disease. EMA was assessed by an indirect immunofluorescence assay using monkey esophageal sections as a substrate in 22 active CD, 17 non-active CD, and 22 non-CD children. EMA titers were correlated with small bowel mucosal pathology. Sensitivity and specificity of EMA were 100%. EMA levels are diet dependent, increasing on a gluten-containing diet and decreasing with gluten withdrawal after 3-12 months. EMA is a reliable marker for the diagnosis of CD, and reflects gluten intake changes and patients' dietary compliance. In our laboratory, EMA is suitable for the diagnosis and follow-up of CD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Bnai Zion Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pacht
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sinai
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hornstein
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ish-Shalom
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lerner
mesh_terms: D001284:Atrophy; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005983:Glutens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007422:Intestines / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000276:immunology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012698:Serologic Tests
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D005983:Glutens