Prevalence of IgA-antigliadin antibodies and IgA-antiendomysium antibodies related to celiac disease in children with Down syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
This study was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of celiac disease in children and adolescents with Down syndrome.


METHODS
Forty-three children and adolescents with Down syndrome were screened for IgA-antigliadin antibodies (AGA) and IgA-antiendomysium antibodies (EMA). Patients found to be either AGA- or EMA-positive were investigated further with intestinal biopsy.


RESULTS
None of the 43 patients had known celiac disease at entry into the study; 37% (16/43) were found to have AGA levels above normal, and 16% (7/43) to be EMA-positive. Of the 15 patients who underwent biopsy, 8 manifested villous atrophy. Villous atrophy was present in all 7 of the EMA-positive patients, whereas the villi were normal in 7 of the 13 AGA-positive patients who underwent biopsy.


CONCLUSIONS
EMA is a good immunologic marker for use in screening for celiac disease, and screening is justified in patients with Down syndrome.
Carlsson
A
A
Department of Pediatrics, University of Lund, University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
Axelsson
I
I
Borulf
S
S
Bredberg
A
A
Forslund
M
M
Lindberg
B
B
Sjöberg
K
K
Ivarsson
S A
SA
D000293:Adolescent; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D005903:Gliadin / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000473:pathology; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000276:immunology*; D015995:Prevalence
D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D005903:Gliadin