Unmasking anti-endomysial antibodies in coeliac subjects positive for anti-smooth muscle antibodies.
Anti-endomysial antibodies assayed by indirect immunofluorescence presently represent the most advanced in vitro method for diagnosing coeliac disease. While testing the serum of patients affected by coeliac disease for anti-endomysial antibodies, we noticed in some samples the presence of anti-smooth muscle antibodies. This led us to the hypothesis that anti-smooth muscle antibodies might mask the presence of anti-endomysial antibodies. The aim of our research was to develop a method that could confirm our hypothesis. Here we show that the AEA response can be effectively unmasked by increasingly diluting anti-smooth muscle antibodies-positive serum.
Lasagni
D
D
Department of Pediatrics, University of Florence, Italy.
Ferrari
R
R
Lapini
M
M
D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology*; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D007201:Indicator Dilution Techniques; D007223:Infant; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000276:immunology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012698:Serologic Tests
D001323:Autoantibodies